Elders run pandemic simulation Kenya

The Elders, the group of former leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, visited the World Health Organization’s emergency hub in Nairobi on May 14 and took part in a pandemic-response simulation, according to WHO Africa. The exercise was designed to test how senior advocates might respond to a fast-moving health emergency and to expose gaps in readiness across surveillance, logistics and decision-making. WHO said the visit included a look at its new Preparedness Data Exchange, an AI-enabled system launched in March 2026 to help officials query live preparedness data and receive source-cited answers. ### Why were former heads of state in a WHO emergency hub in Nairobi? WHO Africa said The Elders visited its Regional Emergency Preparedness and Response Hub in Nairobi to see how the agency handles outbreaks and other crises across the continent. The hub supports operations, logistics, warehousing and rapid deployment for emergencies ranging from infectious disease outbreaks to climate-related shocks and humanitarian crises. (afro.who.int) The Elders said on its website that the group was founded in 2007 by Mandela and works on peace, justice, human rights and global issues including pandemics. Current members include former Norwegian prime minister and former WHO director-general Gro Harlem Brundtland, former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos, who chairs the group. (afro.who.int) ### What did the simulation actually test? WHO Africa said the visit included “a facilitated simulation exercise” meant to spur discussion about how The Elders could shape high-level advocacy on pandemic preparedness and response ahead of the U.N. General Assembly later this year. The agency did not publish a full scenario in the material it released, but said the session sat alongside demonstrations of surveillance systems, operations support and logistics. (theelders.org) The WHO release said the simulation also introduced The Elders to the Preparedness Data Exchange, or PDX. WHO described PDX as an integrated intelligence system with an embedded AI assistant that can shorten the time between signal detection and coordinated response by letting health officials ask questions in plain language and receive auditable answers grounded in WHO datasets. (afro.who.int) ### What was happening in the region at the same time? Kenya’s health ministry said on May 19 that the country had intensified national preparedness measures because of an Ebola outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The ministry said Kenya had not reported any case linked to the outbreak as of that date, but had activated enhanced surveillance because of regional travel and trade links. (afro.who.int) The Kenyan statement said that, as of May 18, more than 336 alerts and suspected cases were under investigation in DRC, 87 deaths had been reported including two in Uganda, and 13 laboratory-confirmed cases had been identified in DRC and Uganda. Kenya said more than 34,500 travellers and conveyances had been screened at points of entry as part of its response. (health.go.ke) ### How is WHO responding beyond the exercise room? WHO Africa said on May 22 that its Nairobi hub shipped 11 tonnes of health-emergency supplies and equipment to Bunia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on May 20. The shipment included personal protective equipment, case-management kits and supplies for safe and dignified burials after an Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus was declared on May 15. (health.go.ke) Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa, said during The Elders’ visit that the agency wanted the group to “carry WHO’s voice and our vision into the world.” Dr. Marie Roseline Belizaire, WHO’s regional emergency director, said African countries were responding to multiple health emergencies at the same time, including disease outbreaks, climate shocks and humanitarian crises. (afro.who.int) WHO said The Elders’ Nairobi visit was tied to advocacy ahead of the U.N. General Assembly later in 2026, while Kenya said its incident management system, emergency operations centres and rapid response teams remain activated for Ebola preparedness. (afro.who.int)