ESWATINI LAUNCHES NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR HEALTH SECURITY

WHO | Regional Office for Africa - Making People Healthier · November 3, 2026

ESWATINI LAUNCHES NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR HEALTH SECURITY 3 November 2026 amimos@who.int Tue, 03/11/2026 - 13:44 Ezulwini – The Kingdom of Eswatini formally launched its National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) 2026 – 2030 marking a critical transition from assessment to evidence-based implementation for strengthening core capacities under the International Health Regulations (2005). The high-level launch convened the Ministers of Health, Agriculture, Public Service, and Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Members of Parliament for the Health Portfolio Committee, Africa CDC, the National Disaster Risk Management Authority, development partners, civil society and academia, in a demonstration of whole-of-government and whole-of-society commitment. The total budget required to fully implement the NAPHS is E558 million, enough to cover every citizen in Eswatini. “Our country is building a fully integrated, multi-sectoral defense system under a comprehensive One Health framework, and our planned interventions for 2026 to 2030 require an estimated budget of E 558 million. By investing E 558 million into this plan, we are not just funding healthcare; we are securing the sovereign longevity, safety, and economic security of every single Liswati,” Minister for Health Hon. M.P Mduduzi Matsebula. Delivering remarks on behalf of WHO, the WHO Officer in Charge Dr. Mekdim Ayana stated that the launch signifies more than a strategic document, representing a national commitment to enhancing health systems resilience and safeguarding future generations against the converging threats of infectious diseases, natural disasters, climate-related events and other public health emergencies, noting that preparedness functions as an anticipatory national investment that saves lives, protects livelihoods, preserves economic stability and safeguards development gains. The National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) is a government-led, multi-year plan that helps the country strengthen its ability to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and other health threats. The plan brings together different sectors, including human, animal, and environmental health, under a One Health approach, and promotes collaboration across government and partners. It identifies the country's health security priorities, defines key actions, mobilizes partners, and guides the allocation of resources to build and sustain strong health security systems. Dr. Mekdim commended Eswatini for sustained International Health Regulations (IHR) implementation since 2010 through annual reporting, and for voluntarily undertaking the Joint External Evaluation, WHO's independent peer-reviewed assessment of IHR core capacities across the Prevent, Detect, Respond, and Other IHR-Related Hazards and Points of Entry domains covering 19 technical areas. Eswatini's second JEE conducted in September 2024 documented important achievements but found that no technical area had yet attained sustainable capacity, with most capacities ranging from no capacity to developed capacity, thereby providing a robust evidence base to guide prioritized investment, and underscored that the voluntary JEE reflects recognition that health security transcends the health sector and requires multisectoral One Health collaboration across human, animal and environmental health, disaster management, security sectors, academia, communities and partners. The need for accelerated implementation of NAPHS is informed by recent vulnerability and systems performance analyses, as the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite demonstrated national resilience, the COVID-19 pandemic exerted considerable strain on the health system and exposed critical gaps in surveillance sensitivity, workforce capacity, logistics, risk communication and emergency coordination, while the successfully contained limited cholera outbreak in 2023 and recurrent droughts, hailstorms and other climate-sensitive hazards further demonstrated the necessity of maintaining high readiness. Compounding this risk profile is Eswatini's geographic connectivity through extensive formal and informal cross-border movement of people and goods with South Africa and Mozambique, which while supporting trade and development, increases vulnerability to importation and propagation of cholera, measles, malaria and emerging infectious diseases, reinforcing the need for strengthened indicator-based and event-based surveillance, effective border health measures, cross-border collaboration and regional solidarity within the Southern African Development Community. “I congratulate the Government for completing the NAPHS Resource Mapping Exercise as a critical accountability and coordination instrument that systematically identifies existing investments, available resources, funding gaps and alignment opportunities to prioritize interventions, mobilize additional support, avoid duplication and maximize impact, thereby positioning the country to transition the NAPHS from a planning document to a fully financed national programme. The NAPHS ultimate success will be measured by resources mobilized, partnerships strengthened, capacities built and the demonstrated ability to prevent, rapidly detect and effectively respond, requiring sustainable financing through national and sectoral budgets, sustained coordinated implementation with clear roles, regular reviews and simulation exercises, and robust accountability, “ Dr Mekdim.

Источник: WHO | Regional Office for Africa - Making People Healthier