African Development Bank Funds Regional Health Emergency Preparedness Project in Southern Africa
Viable News Team 
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The African Development Bank Group has approved new financing to strengthen health systems across Southern Africa, targeting improved emergency preparedness and response capacity in the region.
Approved on 3 March 2026, the funding from the bank’s concessional window will support the Resilient Health Systems for Emergency Preparedness Project, an initiative designed to help countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) respond more effectively to public health crises, including disease outbreaks and nutrition emergencies.
Strengthening Health Systems Across SADC
Health experts have long warned that several countries in the SADC region remain vulnerable to epidemics due to fragile healthcare infrastructure, shortages of skilled personnel and limited emergency preparedness.
The new project aims to address these weaknesses by strengthening laboratory capacity, improving cross-border surveillance systems and training health professionals who can respond quickly to health emergencies.
According to Kennedy Mbekeani, the initiative focuses on addressing persistent gaps in regional health systems.
He noted that many countries continue to face risks from zoonotic diseases, cholera outbreaks and high levels of malnutrition, while also dealing with limited human resources in the health sector.
Training Health Workers and Nutrition Specialists
A central part of the programme focuses on building human capacity in the health sector.
The project will train 449 laboratory technicians, community health workers and trainers, including 269 women, through specialised training programmes designed to integrate gender considerations, climate resilience and the One Health approach.
The One Health framework recognises the close relationship between human health, animal health and environmental conditions, particularly in preventing and managing infectious disease outbreaks.
In addition, about 35 nutrition coordinators, including 21 women, from institutions specialising in nutrition and gender in emergencies will receive professional certification.
Updated training curricula are expected to benefit approximately 240 students annually, helping create a sustainable pool of experts in nutrition and gender-responsive emergency management across the region.
Laboratory Infrastructure and Surveillance Upgrades
The project also includes major infrastructure upgrades in several countries.
Diagnostic laboratories, wastewater surveillance facilities and environmental monitoring laboratories in six SADC member states will be renovated and equipped to improve disease detection and monitoring.
A key component involves modernising the Instituto Nacional de Saúde in Mozambique, enabling it to function as a regional reference laboratory.
Meanwhile, the national blood bank in Lesotho will receive upgrades to strengthen blood safety and availability during emergencies.
Cross-Border Health Surveillance
Given the cross-border nature of many disease outbreaks, the initiative also focuses on regional collaboration.
Plans include the establishment of a regional framework for cross-border laboratories, as well as a mobile cross-border laboratory that will be deployed at two strategic border points in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
These facilities will help authorities quickly detect and respond to infectious disease threats that move across national borders.
Improving Preparedness for Future Health Emergencies
Public health experts say investments in regional health infrastructure are essential following lessons learned from recent global and regional health crises.
By strengthening surveillance systems, training health professionals and improving laboratory infrastructure, the new project aims to ensure countries across Southern Africa are better prepared to respond to health emergencies in the future.
The initiative reflects growing efforts by regional institutions and international partners to improve resilience in healthcare systems while addressing broader challenges such as malnutrition, climate-related health risks and emerging infectious diseases.
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