By Ezekiel Wanjiru
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a joint continental Ebola preparedness and response plan, seeking to mobilise $518 million over the next six months to tackle an outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus.
The initiative, branded under a “One Response” approach, aims to align governments, partners and communities under a unified framework with a single plan, budget and coordination structure.
Health officials said the plan is designed to strengthen surveillance, improve rapid response capabilities and enhance coordination across affected and at-risk countries.
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, one of several variants of the virus, has caused periodic outbreaks in parts of Africa, prompting renewed efforts to bolster preparedness and containment measures.
Africa CDC and WHO said the coordinated approach would help streamline resources and ensure a more effective response to the outbreak, while reducing duplication of efforts among stakeholders.
Officials called on international partners and donors to support the funding drive, warning that timely mobilisation of resources would be critical to containing the virus and preventing wider spread.
The plan forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Africa’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies and build resilient health systems.
