Undertaking joint action towards the prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases and to control pandemics and epidemics of communicable and vector-borne diseases that might endanger the health and welfare of the residents of the Community and cooperating in facilitating mass immunisation and other public health community campaigns.\r\n\r\nAn Overview\r\nThe frequent population movement across the borders of the five countries poses a greater risk of spreading diseases from one country to another.\r\n\r\nThe recent growth in regional trade and travel in East Africa has increased the likelihood that disease epidemics will involve more than one country.\r\n\r\nThe response to such a regional epidemiological emergency is complex and involves national, regional and international agencies. An efficient and quick flow of information across the borders is therefore, crucial for averting such incidents of cross border spread. The re-establishment of the East African Community (EAC) in 1999 provides room for increased collaboration in the area of disease surveillance and epidemic control and prevention of spread.\r\n\r\nIn order to promote the achievement of the objectives in respect to cooperation in identified priority health activities in the region as set out in Article 118 of the Treaty for the establishment of the EAC, five standing Technical Working Groups responsible for handling detailed health matters have been formed. These are:\r\n\r\nMedicines and Food Safety;\r\nControl and Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), HIV and AIDS;\r\nControl and Prevention of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases;\r\nHealth Research, Policy and Health Systems Development; and,\r\nReproductive, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition\r\n\r\nStrategic Interventions\r\nThe EAC Health Department has developed several frameworks and instruments to respond to identified regional health challenges and priority interventions. These include:\r\n\r\n