US funds STRIDES project with $4 million
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Santé Mag (Maroc)
Morocco and the United States signed an agreement in Rabat on 12 November launching STRIDES, a disease surveillance project funded by Washington with $4 million. The programme is to strengthen laboratories, epidemiological monitoring and rapid response teams, according to Santé Mag.
The United States will allocate $4 million to the STRIDES project in Morocco to strengthen surveillance of transmissible diseases and the response to epidemics, Santé Mag reports. The funding was announced on 12 November in Rabat by US ambassador to Morocco Duke Buchan III, during the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Moroccan Minister of Health and Social Protection Youns Bjijou.
The project plans to develop laboratory capacities, epidemiological and environmental surveillance as well as health information systems. It is also intended to facilitate data sharing and strengthen the preparedness of rapid response teams. STRIDES is based on the “One Health” approach, which brings together human, animal and environmental health in the detection and management of health risks.
Youns Bjijou stressed prevention and anticipation of health threats, while Duke Buchan III highlighted the need for international cooperation in the face of transmissible diseases. US funding is notably intended to strengthen Morocco’s capacity to monitor and respond to epidemic risks.
The STRIDES project was launched on the same day as the agreement between Morocco and Washington on epidemic surveillance, signed in Rabat on 12 November.
