(BRAZZAVILLE/ARUSHA) – WHO and ECSA-HC partner to boost regional health systems

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration across the region. The agreement, signed on 22 December 2025 in Brazzaville and Arusha, aims to improve health outcomes and build resilient health systems in East, Central and Southern Africa, including South Sudan.

The MoU provides a structured framework for cooperation aligned with WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work and regional priorities. It sets out joint efforts to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage, health security, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said the agreement highlights the importance of regional partnerships in addressing complex health challenges. “This MoU is about delivering better health outcomes for Africans, especially the most vulnerable, across East, Central and Southern Africa,” he said.

Under the partnership, WHO and ECSA-HC will work on several strategic areas. These include strengthening primary health care, preventing and controlling diseases, developing the health workforce, promoting digital health solutions, harmonizing regulations, supporting research and innovation, and improving preparedness and response to public health emergencies. The agreement also prioritizes regional approaches to challenges such as climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and future pandemics.

Dr Ntuli Kapologwe, Director-General of ECSA-HC, said the partnership will support Member States, including South Sudan, in building resilient and equitable health systems. “This MoU strengthens our collaboration with WHO and enhances our ability to advance regional solutions that respond to shared health priorities and challenges,” he said.

WHO provides leadership and technical support to 47 Member States in Africa. ECSA-HC, established in 1974, fosters cooperation among its nine Member States: Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The agreement will be operationalized through a joint plan of action, with defined activities, timelines, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure coordinated implementation and accountability.

The MoU reflects a commitment to solidarity, regional integration, and sustainable investment in health systems. By working together, WHO and ECSA-HC aim to ensure that no one, including vulnerable populations in South Sudan, is left behind in accessing quality health services.

Focus Areas of WHO-ECSA-HC Partnership