Currently posted to the Namanga One-Stop Border Post (OSBP), Kenya, Dr. James Wakhungu is the Assistant Director of Veterinary Services and Border Veterinary Inspector in the Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Dr. Wakhungu participated in the EAC Field Simulation Exercise (FSX) at the Namanga OSBP in 2019.
Through GIZ, Germany is partnering with EAC to address the challenges of pandemics and outbreaks of infectious diseases through a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary One Health approach, as reflected in activities such as field simulation exercises. FSX and the broader support to pandemic preparedness in the EAC region have contributed to EAC’s preparedness to deal with serious outbreaks such as Ebola, Rift Valley, Marburg, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fevers, cholera, polio, hepatitis A and B, and other pandemics and epidemics that have been a big challenge across the region.
Dr. Wakhungu attests that he and his colleagues are now better prepared to handle major transboundary disease outbreaks at border control points, thanks to the capacity development measures. He noted, “The EAC-German cooperation has been extremely useful in developing our capacity to handle major transboundary disease outbreaks at border control points. Now, we have in-house professionals who can train staff, undertake field simulation exercises, and handle disease outbreaks across borders."
Find more information on GIZ support to pandemic preparedness and one health here.