Tanzania and Burundi have convened a critical cross-border meeting to bolster public health collaboration in response to the heightened risk of infectious disease outbreaks. The strategic location of the Kagera region in Tanzania, a gateway to Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda, necessitates urgent action to address the threat of emerging and re-emerging diseases, including Marburg Virus Disease and other concurrent outbreaks.

The meeting, facilitated by the Tanzania Ministry of Health with support from the East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), WHO, Africa CDC, and other partners, focused on revitalizing Public Health Emergency Contingency Plans (PHECPs), enhancing disease surveillance, and strengthening joint preparedness and response efforts.

"This region faces a high risk of disease outbreaks due to dynamic cross-border movement," said Josephine Vito Kaing, an Environmental Health Officer and Epidemiologist with Tanzania's Ministry of Health. "People travel daily for trade, work, education, and religious activities, making coordinated preparedness and response essential."

The Joint Cross-Border Committee, aligned with WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), is central in coordinating health security efforts between Tanzania and Burundi. Comprising surveillance teams, border management authorities, and health officials from both countries, the committee ensures a unified approach to outbreak preparedness and response.

Dr. Remedius Kakulu, Public Health Specialist and IHR Focal Point for Tanzania, emphasized that diseases do not recognize borders, making collaboration imperative. "A problem in Tanzania is a problem in Burundi and beyond. This is why cross-border committees must be formalized and fully operational to ensure coordinated prevention and response measures," he said.

Despite efforts to strengthen cross-border health security, disparities in preparedness and resources present challenges. Dr. Mushi Benedict, Senior Knowledge Management and Public Health Specialist at ECSA-HC, highlighted the issue of unsynchronized funding, noting that while some border areas receive financial support for emergency preparedness, others lack necessary resources, leading to inconsistencies in intervention efforts. Additionally, porous borders make disease detection and containment more difficult.

Dr. Nyandwi Stanislas, Technical Director of Preparedness, Response, and Resilience of Health Emergencies from Burundi, echoed concerns over inadequate human resources, particularly the lack of trained personnel and proper equipment for effective disease surveillance and containment.

Key outcomes of the meeting included agreements to update Public Health Emergency Contingency Plans, conduct tabletop simulations to evaluate emergency response strategies, and enhance joint disease surveillance through improved coordination. Participants also stressed the importance of engaging community leaders, traditional healers, and religious figures in health communication efforts.

Africa CDC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting cross-border public health initiatives. "Responding to outbreaks is not enough—we must also invest in preparedness," said Neema Kamara, Africa CDC’s Field Coordinator for the MVD response in Kagera. "Strengthening border public health information-sharing, synchronizing surveillance systems, and empowering local staff are key to preventing future crises."

The meeting concluded with a call to action for international partners, regional entities, and governments to formalize and sustainably fund cross-border health committees. Key recommendations included integrating harmonized standard operating procedures at all border posts, expanding risk communication strategies, and prioritizing joint outbreak preparedness programs.

The discussions reinforced a crucial message: borders should not be barriers to health security. Regional collaboration, synchronized disease response efforts, and resilient health systems are essential to protecting communities from emerging health threats. As Dr. Stanislas noted, "When we collaborate, we learn from each other's successes and challenges. This is the only way we can build a stronger, more resilient health security framework for the region."