Uganda’s Ministry of Health is currently strengthening the health system as a major way to efficiently implement the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). This was said by Dr Sam Zaramba, Director General of Health Services at the opening of the Stakeholders meeting on International Health Regulations currently going on Kampala.

In a speech read for him by the Commissioner of Health Services Dr Denis Lwamafa, Dr Zaramba noted that the current and the new health policy put emphasis on building a robust health system and the thrust is on public health interventions.” In that regard, the ministry is currently undertaking a re-structuring exercise to strengthen surveillance and response components of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response which is critical for IHR implementation.