Morocco and Washington sign agreement on epidemic surveillance
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Vie éco
Morocco’s health minister, Youns Bjijou, and US ambassador Duke Buchan III signed in Rabat a renewable one-year memorandum of understanding on transmissible disease surveillance. The text, linked to the launch of the STRIDES project, covers epidemiological surveillance, antimicrobial resistance and health emergency preparedness, according to La Vie éco.
The memorandum of understanding signed on Thursday 12 November 2026 in Rabat between the Moroccan Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the US State Department is for one year, with the possibility of an extension by joint written decision. The arrangement provides for joint management, an action plan and progress reports, according to La Vie éco.
Technical implementation will be carried out in Morocco by the Directorate of Epidemiology and Disease Control, with support from FHI 360 on the US side, subject to the availability of funding, according to La Vie éco. The cooperation covers epidemiological and environmental surveillance, antimicrobial resistance, health emergency preparedness, surveillance at points of entry, and the strengthening of laboratories and health professionals.
The STRIDES project is based on a “One Health” approach linking human health, animal health and the environment. It notably aims to strengthen human and animal health laboratory networks, modernise laboratories and health information systems, improve data management and sharing, and consolidate mechanisms for preparing for and responding to epidemic outbreaks, according to La Vie éco.
