Tripartite Cross-Border Meeting on Mpox Surveillance and Response

The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), with support from the World Bank-funded Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Project (HEPRRP-MPA), has officially opened the Tripartite Cross-Border Disease Surveillance Meeting in Karonga, Malawi. The meeting runs from 1–3 September 2025.

The gathering has attracted over 50 delegates from Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania, including:

• Ministries of Health officials (national and sub-national)
• Border health and immigration officers
• Epidemiologists, laboratory experts, and surveillance teams
• Partners from WHO, UNICEF, Africa CDC, IOM, and other organizations

Purpose of the Meeting

The meeting is being held in response to recent Mpox outbreaks in the three countries. It provides a neutral platform for delegates to:

• Review the epidemiological situation of Mpox in the region.
• Harmonize cross-border surveillance and screening protocols at points of entry.
• Establish a trilateral information-sharing mechanism for suspected and confirmed Mpox cases.
• Develop a Joint Cross-Border Action Plan with clear roles, timelines, and monitoring indicators.
• Strengthen the technical capacity of point-of-entry staff in traveler screening, contact tracing, and community engagement.

Expected Outcomes

Over the course of three days, delegates are working to:
✅ Agree on a harmonized surveillance and screening protocol.
✅ Draft the Karonga Joint Action Plan on cross-border Mpox surveillance and response.
✅ Share lessons learned from other outbreaks such as cholera and COVID-19.
✅ Strengthen collaboration among frontline officers and national decision-makers.

Looking Ahead

This tripartite engagement highlights the urgent need for regional cooperation in tackling health threats that transcend borders. The Karonga meeting is expected to set the foundation for long-term collaboration beyond Mpox, enabling countries to better prepare for and respond to future cross-border health emergencies.

📍 Together, Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania are taking bold steps to protect communities, safeguard borders, and strengthen regional health security.