For the first time, the East African Community (EAC) is operationalising its Rapidly Deployable Expert (RDE) Pool in response to an international public health emergency due to the spreading Mpox virus disease outbreak. EAC Partner States such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Burundi are particularly affected, with the DRC reporting over 7,000 confirmed cases by end of October 2024, around 40% of them among children under 15.
The Rapidly Deployable Expert (RDE) Pool is a specialized team of trained health professionals and other experts within the East African Community (EAC) that can be quickly mobilized to assist member states in managing public health emergencies. The RDE Pool brings together experts in fields like epidemiology, environment, IT, laboratory science, logistics, risk communication, and clinical management, providing immediate, hands-on support in disease surveillance, response coordination, and healthcare provision during outbreaks. By deploying the RDE Pool, EAC enhances regional preparedness and strengthens each member state's capacity to address complex health crises effectively and efficiently. Read more on this link .