Implementing the international health regulations in Africa

The notification and prevention of the spread of diseases and other public health risks across borders is a longstanding area of health diplomacy. The International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) were adopted by the 58th World Health Assembly in May 2005 to control the spread of diseases and public health risks across borders. The IHR (2005) are global standards that become legally binding in countries once they have been incorporated into domestic public health law (unless country constitutions specifically state that such international standards automatically apply). Member states of WHO, who are “States Parties” to the IHR, were given up to 2007 to assess their capacity and develop national action plans on the regulations. Countries were given up to 2012 to meet the requirements of the IHR regarding their national surveillance, reporting and response systems to public health risks and emergencies and to provide the measures set for disease control at designated airports, ports and ground crossings. Progress toward attainment of these goals depends on eight core capacities, to be in place by the year 2012. This policy brief outlines the context and content of the IHR and how far the provisions have been implemented in east and southern Africa.The implementation of IHR (2005) in Africa calls for national action. WHO Afro have, for example, proposed to implement IHR (2005) within the Integrated Diseases Surveillance (IDS) strategy, given steps already taken to build national response systems for the IDS. This implies broadening the scope of surveillance beyond diseases, and implementing event-based surveillance at all levels. The setting of the IHR does not mark the end of regional and international co-operation, which needs to continue. The provisions of the IHR need to be integrated within relevant policies, strategies and plans that are being negotiated and implemented, including those dealing with climate change and disaster risk management. Integrating the IHR (2005) provisions would be important to ensure a holistic approach.