Ethiopia’s Ethio-Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) Project just wrapped up its first annual review meeting in Bishoftu, bringing together government officials, health experts, UN agencies, and other partners, according to a press release. Big names from health and agriculture, along with groups like World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), came to share what’s working and discuss the next steps.
Right from the start, speakers made it clear: working together across sectors is the way to get ahead of future outbreaks. Attendees checked out a gallery walk that showed off the project’s progress so far, highlighting teamwork between human health and animal health sectors. Ethiopia is turning heads as a strong leader in pandemic planning for the region.
Project partners talked openly about the challenges they hit early on, but also the solid gains made. Fresh goals for year two were laid out—more focus on regions, better training for local staff, and stronger links between organizations. Lively panels touched on emergency response, getting everyone onboard with One Health, and raising more money for these efforts.
This meeting drove home that Ethiopia is stepping up on global pandemic preparedness. Backed by the Pandemic Fund and organizations like WHO and World Bank, EPPR is proving how local ownership and outside support can really make a difference.
By the end, everyone agreed to keep sharing what works, build up training, map out skilled workers for quick action, and pull together tighter as a team. The EPPR project looks set to push Ethiopia’s health system forward—making the country safer and more prepared.
