BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – Eswatini has taken a major step forward in its public health preparedness with the launch of its National Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) Guidelines, a system designed to detect, verify, and respond to potential disease threats in real time.
The guidelines were officially launched on Friday, 5 September 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane. The event was officiated by the Minister of Health, Honourable Mduduzi Matsebula, alongside development partners including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the US CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), and ICAP.
“Health security is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity,” Matsebula declared. “Swift, informed action allows us to contain threats before they become crises. EBS gives us the ability to detect unusual health events quickly and mobilise responses before they escalate.”
A New Approach to Disease Surveillance
Unlike traditional surveillance systems, which rely largely on laboratory-confirmed data, EBS is designed to capture early signals from a variety of sources, including media reports, community observations, and frontline clinics. These signals are then assessed, verified, and escalated where necessary, allowing for faster interventions.
“EBS is the eyes and ears of our health system,” Matsebula said, stressing the importance of empowering communities and healthcare workers to act as the first line of defence against outbreaks.
National Commitments
The Minister outlined five commitments under the new framework:
- Integration of EBS into the national disease surveillance system.
- Training of healthcare workers and community actors to identify and report unusual events.
- Consistency in reporting procedures across all health system levels.
- Coordination between ministries, agencies, and partners for quicker responses.
- Resilience-building at community level, ensuring citizens become active participants in health security.
Global Partners Welcome the Move
WHO Representative to Eswatini, Dr Susan Tembo, described the new guidelines as a “game-changer”, emphasising that successful disease surveillance depends on the collaboration of citizens, journalists, health workers, and institutions alike.
Lindiwe Dlamini from the Epidemiology and Disease Control Unit explained the technical process behind EBS: signal detection, triage, verification, risk assessment, and alerting. She noted that EBS does not replace existing surveillance systems but complements them by serving as an early warning tool.
A National Call to Action
Closing the launch, Minister Matsebula urged all stakeholders to adopt and implement the guidelines without delay.
“Let this launch be remembered not just for the guidelines, but for the national movement it inspires,” he said. “Every citizen must become an active participant in protecting our nation’s health.”
With this milestone, Eswatini has positioned itself at the forefront of Africa’s New Public Health Order, demonstrating a firm commitment to early detection, rapid response, and stronger resilience against future epidemics.
