Nicodemus Ikonko
The East African Community (EAC) has launched Phase III of the Regional Network of Reference Laboratories for Communicable Diseases Project, valued at 12 million Euros, during a ceremony held on May 9, 2025, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha.
EAC Secretary General (SG), Ms Veronica Nduva, said the new phase aims to strengthen laboratory capacity for pandemic prevention and response across the region, in line with the One Health approach.
Speaking during the event, Ms Nduva explained that the three-year project—set to run from July 2025 to July 2028—is funded by the Federal Republic of Germany through the German Development Bank (KfW).
“This project will address the challenges posed by communicable diseases and enhance the region’s preparedness to respond effectively to health emergencies. It will also support the rapid containment of outbreaks for diseases such as Ebola and Marburg,” she explained.
Launching the project, the Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for EAC Affairs, Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe, emphasised the importance of regional collaboration.
“To prevent and control both communicable and non-communicable diseases and to contain pandemics and epidemics, there is a critical need for rapid and accurate laboratory detection of outbreaks. This must encompass human, animal and environmental health factors, in line with the One Health approach,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, Ms Julia Kronberg, Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy in Tanzania, reiterated Germany’s support for the EAC in enhancing regional health systems.
