6th East African Health and Scientific Conference and International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair, Bujumbura - Burundi

The 10th ordinary meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health held in Arusha on 16th October 2014, approved the hosting of the 6th East African Health and Scientific Conference & International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair in 2016 in the Republic of Burundi (EAC/Health/SCM-10/Decision 006).
However, the 6th EAHSC was postponed to the year 2017 and the 12th Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health held in Arusha on 23rd June 2017 approved the main theme and sub-themes of the conference as well as the dates of the conference. The conference was held at the "Ecole Technique Professionnelle de Bujumbura", from 29th - 31st March 2017.

1. Message from the Secretary General of the East African Community

The East African Community (EAC) is convening the 6th Health and Scientific Conference & International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair from 29th to 31st March 2017, in Bujumbura, Republic of Burundi. For the first time, this event is being organized by the East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC) in collaboration with the EAC Partner States through their respective National Ministries responsible for Health, EAC Affairs and other relevant institutions and bodies.

Over the years, the East African Health and Scientific Conference and International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair has contributed towards strengthening regional cooperation in health in line with Article 118 of the Treaty for the establishment of the EAC as well as relevant provisions of the EAC Common Market Protocol. In this regard, EAC Secretariat is committed to continuing to support this event. I take the opportunity to encourage the EAC Partner States to continue to support it too.

Since the last 5th East African Health and Scientific Conference & International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair held in March 2015 in Kampala, Republic of Uganda, our Community has been engaged in several notable activities such as the operationalization of the East African Health Research Commission and implementation of recommendations from the Conference.

The main theme for this year’s conference is “Preparedness for, and control of disease outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics, in the context of climate change, globalization, and gaps in health systems”.

The 6th East African Health and Scientific Conference will provide an opportunity to share research findings on the theme of the conference and related symposia will be organized to discuss the main issues from the conference in order to propose to Partner States concrete recommendations and strategies to implement them.

I am grateful to the Republic of Burundi for accepting to host the 6th East African Health and Scientific Conference & International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair. I also thank the other EAC Partner States and various Development Partners for actively contributing towards the success of this event.

I am delighted and pleased to welcome you all to the 6th East African Health and Scientific Conference & International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair in this beautiful city of Bujumbura, in the Republic of Burundi.

Ambassador Liberat Mfumukeko

Secretary General

2. Message from the Executive Secretary of the East African Health Research Commission

I am honoured to welcome you to the 6th East African Health and Scientific Conference & International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair. The Health and Scientific Conference and International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair are organized on a rotational basis within the EAC Partner States and is convened as part of the regional cooperation and integration in the health sector as stipulated under Article 118 of the Treaty establishing the East African Community (EAC). The East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC), an Institution of the EAC, which was established in 2007 and operationalised in 2015, coordinates this event in cooperation with the host nation and all EAC Partner States. This year the event is hosted by the Republic of Burundi and we appreciate the cooperation that we have been accorded in the preparation of this important EAC event. We appreciate the financial and in-kind support that we have received from EAC, USAID, and others for this event.

Globalization and climate change are two main factors that will characterize this millennium and profoundly influence health and wellbeing more than at any time before in the entire history of mankind. They will influence disease outbreaks and epidemics. While we are grappling with the HIV pandemic for over three decades now, Ebola, Zika, and Bird flu have shown us just how vulnerable we are and exposed the weakness of our health systems.

Epidemiological data and predictions are indicating that certainly there will be more similar catastrophes in the future. To-date, of the ten causative agents of the deadliest epidemics in the history of the world, seven of them are still prevalent and they can be the foci for other deadly epidemics. It is from this background that the East African Health Research Commission synthesized the main theme of this year’s event to be: “Preparedness for, and control of disease outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics, in the context of climate change, globalization and gaps in health systems” which, through six sub-themes, will allow sharing of available information and set stage for discussion on various aspects of the theme. The conference through organised symposia, will provide fora for in-depth discussion by experts on key areas and generate recommendations, and strategies for their implementation.

The event is expected to bring together more than 500 experts and stakeholders from within and outside the EAC region; this includes EAC Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs, EAC Ministers of Health, members of parliament, development partners, the private sector, researchers, health professionals, policy makers, practitioners, etc.

Alongside the conference, there will be an international health exhibition and trade fair. This will allow participants to showcase health-related activities and products from research, academia, healthcare services and the health sector in general. The exhibition and trade fair will allow exhibitors to access the regional market, create new contacts, and promote their profile and business.

This conference is another avenue for EAC integration that enhances free movement of people, services and goods. I humbly and with pleasure welcome all of you to the 6th chapter of the East African Health and Scientific Conference.

Prof. Gibson Kibiki

Executive Secretary – EAHRC

3. Message from the Chair of the Conference

Dear participants,

As chair of the 6th East African Health and Scientific Conference & International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair, it is a great honour and an immense privilege for me to address my warmest welcome to all the participants to this conference. Special thanks go to participants from neighbouring countries who decided to come and spend the next three days in Bujumbura.

The recent and unprecedented epidemic of Ebola that struck three West African countries has exposed the extent of unpreparedness and the extreme fragility of the health systems. Our Region and most of the African countries, still under the burden of both infectious and chronic diseases are facing emerging threats related to climate change.

The Main Theme: “Preparedness for and control of disease outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics, in the context of climate change, globalization, and gaps in health systems” offers to the researchers, the pharmaceutical industry, the civil society and the policy makers the appropriate forum to exchange on these priority and interlinked issues.

This conference is the opportunity to better know the nature of the burden of disease and the readiness of the health systems in the East African countries.

I do hope that the participants to this conference will reach a consensus around some relevant recommendations to strengthen the health systems and enable them to cope with the triple burden of infectious diseases, chronic diseases and the emerging challenges associated with Climate change and globalization.

With your permission, I would like to finish by thanking all the people who contributed to the success of this event among them the government of the host country under the leadership of his Excellency the President of the Republic, the partner States, the East African Community Secretariat, the East African Health Research Commission Secretariat, all the sponsors acting on behalf of the respective governments or on behalf of international or national organizations, the civil society, the national and regional steering committees and last but not least all the participants including the exhibitors.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, I wish you a warm welcome and promise to do everything possible to ensure that your stay becomes an unforgettable experience both in terms of science and hospitality.

Prof. BaziraIl Degarde

Chair of the Conference

4. East African Health and Scientific Conference & International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair

The East African Health and Scientific Conference & International Health Exhibition and Trade Fair was approved by the 12th Ordinary Session of the EAC Council of Ministers in the year 2006, to be convened in East Africa and hosted on a rotational basis by the EAC Partner States through their respective National Ministries responsible for EAC Affairs, the Ministry responsible for Health, and other relevant institutions and bodies, and in close collaboration with regional and international health-related NGOs, civil society organizations, individuals, and other stakeholders in the region.

The first East African Health and Scientific Conference (EAHSC) was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Uganda, in March 2007 on the theme “Responding to Health Challenges in East Africa”. The second was hosted by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania in March 2008 on the theme “Addressing poverty and health in East Africa: Challenges to meeting the Millennium Development Goals” and the third was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Kenya in March 2009, on the theme “Climate change, Environment and Health”. The 4th EAHSC was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Rwanda from March 31 to April 2 2013, on the theme “Regional Health Priorities and Opportunities: Evidence for Action in the Changing Global Financial Situation”. The 5th Conference was hosted by the Republic of Uganda from 25th - 27th March 2015 under the theme “Investing in health through strengthening regional health systems, and institutions towards the prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases”.

5. Objectives of the 6th EAHSC

The objective of the 6th EAHSC was to share knowledge and to enhance the capacity of EAC Partner States health systems for preparedness for, and control of disease outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics, in the context of climate change, globalization, and gaps in health systems.

The specific objectives of the 6th EAHSC were to review the progress made by EAC Partner States. Specifically, the conference aimed at reviewing the progress made by countries in the EAC regarding;

  • Emerging, re-emerging infectious, and zoonotic diseases.
  • Vaccines, diagnostics, and antimicrobial agents in control of communicable diseases.

 

  • Antimicrobial resistance.
  • Health systems in control of outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics.
  • Social mobilization for control of outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics.
  • Occupational health and safety, climate change.

6. Main theme, Sub-themes and Symposia

1. Main Theme

“Preparedness for, and control of disease outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics, in the context of climate change, globalization, and gaps in health systems”.

2. Sub-themes

  • Sub-theme 1: Emerging, re-emerging infectious, and zoonotic diseases.
  • Sub-theme 2: Vaccines, diagnostics, and antimicrobial agents in control of communicable diseases.
  • Sub-theme 3: Antimicrobial resistance.

 

 

 

  • Sub-theme 4: Health systems in control of outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics.
  • Sub-theme 5: Social mobilization for control of outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics.
  • Sub-theme 6: Occupational health and safety, Climate change.

3. Symposia

  • Lessons learnt from Ebola and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1: Way forward for Preparedness for control of the outbreak.
  • Lessons learnt from HIV pandemic: Preparedness for and control of the adverse events associated with chronic administration of ARV agents.
  • Managing recurrent epidemics: Experiences and opportunities for strengthening preparedness and control of epidemics in EAC.
  • Antimicrobial agents use, antimicrobial resistance and policy on antimicrobial agents in the East African Community.
  • Mitigating impact of globalisation and climate change on health.
  • Integrated Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and HIV/AIDS.

Two symposia were added thereafter to be part of the symposia of the conference. These are;

  • Strengthening collaboration between civil society and key research stakeholders in promoting health research and innovation in Africa.
  • Academic Health Centre, an important part of the health improvement agenda in low and middle-income countries.