Group photo of participants @FAO/Mark Nanyingi

Kenya is at high risk of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak due to its close proximity to Uganda that reported the disease outbreak in late 2022. Although the outbreak in Uganda has been contained there remains a high risk of importing the disease through Points of Entry (PoE) in future.

In order to enhance the country's operational readiness and capacity for prompt response to suspected Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak. The Ministry of Health and Directorate of Veterinary Services supported by the WHO-Kenya, WHO-AFRO and FAO conducted a capacity building tabletop simulation exercise to test the National Ebola Preparedness and Response Plan. This will guide the development of a practical plan of action for operationalization the One-Health approach in health emergency preparedness and response.

The objective of this workshop was to build capacity of the selected MoH and DVS staff  in the planning and conduct of simulation exercises and After-Action Reviews (AAR), as well as assess the preparedness and readiness capacities to improve preparedness and response to EVD outbreak and public health events in Kenya using One-Health approach. The workshop trained over 60 epidemiologists, clinicians, risk and communication experts, veterinarians, disease surveillance officers from high-risk counties of Busia, Bungoma, Nakuru, Machakos and Mombasa; the national government and partners.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Sam Okuthe, the exercise evaluator and Regional Epidemiologist for FAO- ECTAD, said “As FAO, we work to ensure food security; the Ebola disease is a direct threat to national food security. We laud the integration of One Health approach in this simulation exercise. We also reiterate our support towards the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases”.

“The simulation exercise and After-Action Review (AAR) are part and parcel of testing our preparedness in the many emergencies that we have. Many at times, we respond without being prepared and ready. This workshop therefore plays a crucial role in linking preparedness and eventual outbreaks.” said Dr Adam Haji, a facilitator from WHO Kenya Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) program.

Speaking on behalf of the Directorate of Veterinary Services, Dr. Purity Kyunga emphasized the integral role played by veterinarians in preventing spread of diseases from animals to humans including in fatal epidemics like Ebola. The simulation exercises will enhance the animal sectors joint disease surveillance and response mechanisms to outbreaks of zoonoses.

The exercise, which was preceded by some trainings, simulated an actual EVD outbreak and the multi-sectoral teams used injects (discussion prods) to provide management options of interventions according to their various areas of expertise. “During this exercise, we have identified gaps in the national preparedness plan and gone ahead to suggest ways of addressing the shortfalls by the multisectoral teams” said Dr. Mark Nanyingi, One Health specialist and lead facilitator for FAO Emergence Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD). 

In his closing remarks, Dr. Emmanuel Okunga, Head of Division of Disease Surveillance and Response (DDSR) emphasized on the need for capacity building to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to public health threats using multisectoral One-Health (OH) approaches for effective implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) in line with Kenya’s National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS). 

Prof. Folorunso Fasina, the exercise observer and FAO-ECTAD team lead expressed satisfaction that the exercise had met all its goals and all participants had learned something new and better about simulation exercises and were therefore empowered to respond to any public health threat of zoonotic origin. He encouraged the participants to localize the knowledge acquired for implementation.

The University of Liverpool, Washington State University, Zoonotic Diseases Unit, CDC, Kenya Red Cross and Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, all gave technical support to the exercise, and the activity was implemented through the generous financial support from USAID.

For further information, kindly contact:

Joseph Othieno

National Communications Specialist

FAO Kenya

Email: [email protected]

Or

Mark Nanyingi

One Health  Specialist

FAO ECTAD Kenya

Email : [email protected]