WHO, Africa CDC, and Morocco launch Health Emergency Leaders Network for Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean

Rabat, 15 September 2025 - The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), together with the Kingdom of Morocco, today opened a landmark meeting in Rabat to launch the Health Emergency Leaders Network for Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. This network is the first of its kind, bringing together deputy ministers and senior health emergency leaders from Ministries of Health in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean regions, alongside international partners to forge stronger regional defences that also reinforce global health security.

"When crises transcend borders, so must our response-seamlessly, efficiently, and with one voice. The Network's value is clear: trust, operational alignment with global efforts, and a mechanism to share lessons and advance cross regional opportunities before emergencies erupt. But its success will depend on the trust built among Member States. It must be country-driven, sustained, and rooted in shared responsibility," said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

"Africa CDC's journey since 2017 has been rooted in the vision of a New Public Health Order, with leadership and partnerships at its core. Through the continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST), co-chaired by Africa CDC and WHO, we have shown the power of connected action in responding to outbreaks such as Mpox. Beyond systems, the real difference in any emergency is made by people - and by leaders who act together in solidarity to protect communities," said Dr. Raji Tajudeen, Acting Deputy Director-General, Africa CDC.

During the three-day meeting in Rabat, participants will define the Network's vision, strategic value, priorities, and operational plans. The meeting will conclude with the adoption of the Rabat Statement of Intent, a collective commitment to build trust, foster solidarity, and accelerate collaboration across borders.

Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, underlined the urgency: "Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean face some of the toughest emergencies in the world. By bringing our leaders together, we are creating the relationships and readiness spirits that will make responses faster, stronger, and ultimately, lifesaving."

Representing the host country, H.E. Amine Tahraoui, Minister of Health and Social Protection, stated: "Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has turned major health crises into powerful lessons of resilience and drivers of solidarity. COVID-19 and other recent global crises have shown the world that no nation can stand alone, and that lasting health security can only be achieved through shared responsibility, solidarity, and cooperation. This meeting creates the momentum to move beyond short-term and crisis-driven responses to advance sustainable preparedness and build robust health systems capable of protecting future generations."

The Health Emergency Leaders Network is aligned with the flagship initiative to strengthen the emergency health workforce in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It also forms a central part of the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC), established in May 2023 with support from the Gates Foundation to enhance global health emergency work force capacities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. By linking Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean more closely with each other and with global mechanisms, the Network will ensure countries are better prepared, better connected, and better aligned with international efforts to strengthen health security worldwide.