On March 10, 2024, the global health security team at UCSF’s Center for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (CPPR) participated in a panel discussion titled “The Importance of Cross-border Surveillance in Pandemic Prevention: Examples from Three Continents” at the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) 15th Annual Conference in Los Angeles.

CUGH is a network of over 190 academic institutions and organizations worldwide dedicated to addressing global health issues. Their main mission is to empower academic entities and collaborative partners to improve the well-being of individuals and the planet through education, research, service and advocacy. This year’s conference featured 57 speaker sessions and plenaries and hosted over 2,000 attendees, including scientists, students, implementers and professionals from academia, NGOs, government and the private sector, reflecting a diverse and widespread participation from around the world.

The panel discussion focused on global health security, particularly in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, East Africa, and the southern U.S. border. The conversation explored the complexities of cross-border public health surveillance, highlighting the urgent need for seamless data integration and information sharing among nations, as well as the development of unified policies to strengthen global health security.

Laura Buback, MPH, led the panel and provided a comprehensive overview of the importance of cross-border surveillance. Farah Massoud, MPH, Francis Kakooza, PhD, and Ietza Bojorquez, MD, MPH, PhD, offered insights into the MENA region, Uganda, and the U.S.-Mexico/Mexico-Guatemala borders, respectively. Their discussion was skillfully moderated by Solange Madriz, MA, MS, who ensured that everyone had the opportunity to share their ideas and perspectives.

Read the full blog article on the IGHS website.