South Sudan and Uganda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a cross-border collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening health security and protecting communities along their shared border. Speaking during the signing ceremony, Vice-President for the service cluster Hussein Abdelbagi Akol stresses the government’s commitment to collaborations aimed to advancing cross-border disease surveillance, through joint simulation exercises, investigations, and coordinated responses. Health minister Dr. Luke Thompson stresses the importance of the MOU in strengthening institutionalized responses. Acting Executive Director of the South Sudan National Public Health Institution, Dr. Ader Macar Aciek, says the agreement provides an opportunity for the two countries to institutionalize collaboration in cross-border disease surveillance, information sharing, early warning and alert systems. Ugandan Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi echoes the sentiments.
