Mozambique rejoins East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community | São Tomé and Príncipe gets Observer Status

Mozambique has just rejoined the Arusha-based East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community as a full member state while São Tomé and Príncipe have been admitted into the regional organization on observer status.

The admission of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) on observer status was formally approved by East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) Health Ministers during the 77th Health Ministers Conference, held in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79).

On the other hand the Republic of Mozambique becoming a Full Member State reportedly marks a significant milestone in strengthening regional cooperation, solidarity, and collective action towards improving health outcomes, advancing health security, and addressing shared public health challenges across Africa.

The development comes at a time when countries across the continent continue to face increasingly complex health threats, including Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks, Mpox, cholera, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), climate-related health emergencies, and other emerging and re-emerging diseases.

These challenges underscore the importance of regional collaboration, coordinated preparedness and response mechanisms, and stronger health systems capable of protecting populations from cross-border health threats.

The Director General of ECSA-HC, Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, welcomed the two countries and reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Member States in addressing common health challenges and accelerating progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), resilient health systems, and sustainable development.

“The rejoining of Mozambique as a Full Member State and the admission of São Tomé and Príncipe on Observer Status represent an important step towards enhancing regional cooperation and collective health action across our region,” Dr Kapologwe maintained.

“At a time when countries continue to face public health threats such as Ebola, disease outbreaks, and other emerging health emergencies, regional solidarity and collaboration have never been more important. These developments strengthen our regional voice and expand opportunities for knowledge sharing, capacity building, innovation, and coordinated responses to health challenges,” said Dr. Kapologwe.

Mozambique’s return to ECSA-HC further reinforces the organization’s mandate of fostering regional integration and collaboration in health.

As a Full Member State, Mozambique will actively participate in ECSA-HC’s governance structures, technical programmes, policy dialogues, capacity-building initiatives, and collaborative efforts aimed at improving the health and well-being of populations across the East, Central and Southern Africa region.

The admission of São Tomé and Príncipe on Observer Status represents an important opportunity to strengthen engagement and cooperation with ECSA-HC.

Through its observer participation, São Tomé and Príncipe will engage in regional policy discussions, technical platforms, knowledge-sharing initiatives, and collaborative health programmes, paving the way for deeper cooperation and partnership in addressing regional health priorities.

ECSA-HC serves as a regional intergovernmental health organization that promotes cooperation among Member States in addressing common health priorities, including health systems strengthening, disease prevention and control, health workforce development, maternal and child health, health security, research and innovation, and emergency preparedness and response.

The organization has continued to play a key role in supporting countries to strengthen surveillance systems, laboratory networks, emergency preparedness, and coordinated responses to public health threats, including recent efforts to support preparedness and response measures against Ebola outbreaks in the region.

The inclusion of São Tomé and Príncipe and the return of Mozambique bring valuable experience, expertise, and perspectives that will contribute to advancing the organization’s strategic goals and regional health agenda.

Their participation further strengthens regional efforts to improve health outcomes, enhance health security, and promote sustainable development through cooperation and shared learning.

Dr. Kapologwe further emphasized that the growth of ECSA-HC reflects the increasing recognition of the importance of regional cooperation in addressing evolving health challenges.

“Health challenges do not respect borders. Whether it is Ebola, antimicrobial resistance, pandemics, or climate-related health emergencies, no country can effectively address these challenges alone.”

The admission of São Tomé and Príncipe and the rejoining of Mozambique further strengthen ECSA-HC’s position as a leading regional platform for health cooperation, innovation, policy coordination, and collective action towards a healthier, safer, and more resilient Africa.

About ECSA-HC

Operating from Arusha City in Northern Tanzania, the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) is a regional intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting the highest possible standards of health among Member States through cooperation, capacity building, policy harmonization, knowledge sharing, and coordinated action on regional health priorities.

Following the rejoining of Mozambique as a Full Member State and the admission of São Tomé and Príncipe on Observer Status, ECSA-HC’s Full Member States are Eswatini, Kenya, Kingdom of Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.