The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) has led a series of activities in Comoros from October 6 to 23, 2026, aimed at strengthening the country's health surveillance, risk prevention, and coordination among human, animal, and environmental health actors. The mission, funded by the French Development Agency (AFD), focused on enhancing national capacities for surveillance, prevention, and response to health threats. The initiative, part of the "Indopacific Health Security" project, aims to improve early detection of health risks and coordination among concerned sectors.
The IOC's SEGA – One Health network carried out several activities in Comoros, including strengthening health surveillance at entry points, supervising health services, risk communication, and community mobilization, as well as monitoring animal diseases. In six ports and airports, Comorian teams received support from experts from the Réunion Regional Health Agency and the Indian Ocean One Health Disease Control and Prevention Center. The work included sanitary control at borders, identification and orientation of travelers with suspicious symptoms, and improvement of health alert transmission mechanisms.
The Comorian Directorate General of Health conducted a supervision mission to Ngazidja, Ndzuani, and Mwali to support health structures and improve the collection of information necessary for rapid and adapted intervention. The mission also focused on animal health, with a workshop organized from October 19 to 22 with the National Livestock Directorate to strengthen the National Animal Disease Epidemiological Surveillance Network in Comoros. The goal is to improve the collection, analysis, and sharing of information on animal diseases through increased collaboration between veterinary services, trained field epidemiologists, and community health agents.
A key aspect of the intervention was community mobilization, with an intersectoral training on risk communication and community engagement held in Moroni from October 12 to 16. The training brought together professionals from human health, livestock, environment, and meteorology sectors, who worked on developing communication strategies and prevention campaigns adapted to local realities, concerns, and population habits. The training used pedagogical materials developed in collaboration with the Oceania Public Health Surveillance Network (ROSSP) and adapted to the Comorian context.
Two Comorian experts, previously trained in Madagascar, participated in the training, along with regional teams and an expert from the EpiMACT unit. The goal is to sustain the acquired skills and integrate them into the daily practices of concerned services. The IOC plans to provide accompaniment to national teams to facilitate the application of taught methods and promote competency transfer between actors and islands.
Outiati Ahmed Selemane, responsible for epidemiological surveillance in the Anjouan health region, highlighted the importance of this approach in improving collaboration among field actors. "These activities help us work better together and stay attentive to communities to detect alerts earlier and react faster," she noted. The SEGA – One Health network, supported by the IOC, brings together human, animal, and environmental health actors from member states, providing a regional platform for cooperation, surveillance, and expertise exchange.
The strengthened health surveillance and risk prevention systems in Comoros will enable the country to better detect and respond to health threats, ultimately protecting the health and well-being of its population. The initiative demonstrates the commitment of the Comorian government, the IOC, and the AFD to addressing health challenges in the region. Key stakeholders will continue to work together to ensure the sustainability of the acquired skills and competencies.
Key points
- The Indian Ocean Commission led a series of activities in Comoros to strengthen health surveillance and risk prevention systems.
- The initiative focused on enhancing national capacities for surveillance, prevention, and response to health threats.
- The project aims to improve early detection of health risks and coordination among concerned sectors.
