(JUBA) – South Sudan has formally launched and signed off the One Health Strategic Plan and the 2nd National Action Plan for Health Security covering 2025 to 2030.
The initiatives aim to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response to public health emergencies of international concern by integrating human, animal and environmental health.
The plans were approved at a high level event in Juba, led by Dr Martin Elia Lomuro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and included participation from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. Key health development partners were also present.
The strategic documents are designed to foster multisectoral coordination, administrative efficiency and technical collaboration across animal, human and environmental health sectors. They address potential zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance and responses to both natural and man-made disasters.
Dr Lomuro said, “The One Health Strategic Plan and the 2nd National Action Plan for Health Security will enhance preparedness and response to public health threats, safeguarding and improving the health of communities, livestock, wildlife, and the environment.”
He further noted that South Sudan is the sixth country in the African Region to complete the National Action Plan for Health Security.
Hon. Sarah Cleto Rial, Minister of Health, thanked partners for supporting the development of the strategic plans. She described the plans as a one stop framework guiding coordination, preparedness investments and management of public health threats across the country.
Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative for South Sudan, congratulated the government on completing the National Action Plan for Health Security ahead of the implementation of the newly adopted International Health Regulations (IHR) amendments.
He praised the Ministry of Health for aligning national strategies with global health security standards and emphasised that the strategic planning phase is complete, with implementation now the priority.
The Ministry of Health’s One Health Secretariat, supported technically by WHO and financially by the World Bank, coordinated all processes leading to the development of the two strategic plans.
The national launch event concluded with an outline of next steps for implementation:
| Step | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Convene NAPHS Resource Mapping Forum | Within 2 months |
| Draft Annual NAPHS Operational Plan | By October 2025 |
| Develop NAPHS Implementation Tracker | By December 2025 |
| Hold Quarterly NAPHS Implementation Review Meetings | Ongoing, for monitoring and accountability |
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