Entebbe. Uganda and 13 other countries in Eastern Africa have successfully concluded a three-day joint simulation on outbreak preparedness and response. With more than 50 participants, including specialists in case management, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), infection prevention and control, and logistics, the simulation exercises took place inside the Infectious Diseases Treatment Module (IDTM), an innovative, rapidly deployable medical facility developed under INITIATE² to respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
In June 2021, the World Food Programme (WFP) and WHO launched INITIATE², a five-year initiative which brings together emergency response actors, as well as research and academic institutions, to develop innovative and standardised solutions and related training to support readiness and response capabilities in health emergencies.
The simulation, hosted by Uganda’s Ministry of Health and Africa CDC, aimed to strengthen regional capacity to prepare for and respond to high-threat pathogens such as Ebola and Marburg.
“WHO is proud to support this regional training on the innovative infectious diseases treatment module. As we have seen in previous epidemics, rapid treatment unit activation is critical to ensuring early and safe patient care and protection of health workers during disease outbreaks,” said Dr Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Representative in Uganda. “WHO commits to supporting innovations and continued advances in clinical care, through such collaborations. We look forward to cascading and applying this innovation to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of emergency responses.”
“In times as uncertain as these, collaboration is not just a choice—it is a necessity,” said WFP Country Director Marcus Prior. “The challenges posed by epidemics, pandemics, and humanitarian emergencies demand innovative, standardized solutions developed with care, precision, and foresight. WFP has supported Uganda’s public health response through transport, storage, vaccine management, hazardous waste treatment, and outbreak readiness initiatives.”
“We find ourselves confronting ongoing outbreaks of these viral haemorrhagic fevers in different parts of the continent. These threats remind us that preparedness is not optional, it is essential. And our ability to respond effectively depends not only on strong systems but also on skilled and coordinated teams,” said Dr Mazyanga Lucy Mazaba, Regional Director, Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre, Africa CDC. “This SIMEX, supported through the INITIATE² project in partnership with the Ministry of Health Uganda, World Food Programme, WHO and IDI, goes beyond theory. It provides a unique opportunity to rigorously assess and improve our emergency readiness, particularly in the areas of surveillance, infection prevention and control (IPC), water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and emergency preparedness and response (EPR).”
Participants engaged in logistic activities such as the installation of the IDTM, advanced medical scenarios and multidisciplinary interventions covering the entire patient journey from community, admission and discharge.
The IDTM, developed in collaboration with major humanitarian actors, is a reusable, modular treatment facility that enables the delivery of humanised, high-quality care within six hours of deployment. Its lightweight design, mobility and reusability make it possible to bring care closer to communities while ensuring a more environmentally sustainable response.
This training session in Uganda marked a key milestone in the ongoing commitment of INITIATE² and partners to empower national talent and ensure access to the last innovations to strengthen outbreak preparedness and responses.
The success of this training paves the way for future simulations and deployments across the continent.
