Morocco, USA Launch STRIDES Project to Boost Infectious Disease Surveillance & Early Detection

Rabat – Morocco and the United States launched on Thursday in Rabat the STRIDES project, aimed at boost Morocco’s national capacities in infectious disease prevention, surveillance and early detection, while improving outbreak notification and response mechanisms.

The initiative is backed by a $4 million US contribution, bringing total American funding for joint health security efforts to more than $14 million, including support provided through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

On this occasion, Morocco’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the US Department of State signed a memorandum of understanding, providing a framework for cooperation in epidemiological and environmental surveillance, antimicrobial resistance, health emergency preparedness, laboratory capacity-building and disease monitoring at points of entry.

Inked by Health Minister Youns Bjijou and US Ambassador to Morocco Duke Buchan III, the one-year agreement provides for joint steering and monitoring through an action plan and progress reports, with the technical implementation entrusted to Morocco’s Directorate of Epidemiology and Disease Control, supported by FHI 360.

The project is structured around four complementary areas: strengthening human and animal health laboratory networks; enhancing integrated epidemiological and environmental surveillance, including wastewater monitoring; improving health data quality and digital information systems; and building the capacities of rapid response teams and emergency coordination mechanisms.

Speaking at the launch, Bjijou stressed that the initiative supports Morocco’s ongoing reform of its national health system, in line with the High Royal Guidelines, and efforts to achieve universal health coverage. He highlighted the importance of prevention, preparedness and coordination between human, animal and environmental health sectors under the “One Health” approach.

For his part, Ambassador Buchan III emphasized that diseases know no borders and that no country can address these challenges alone, describing STRIDES as a new milestone in a partnership based on shared objectives and responsibilities.

The project is expected to enhance Morocco’s preparedness for emerging health threats, improve the accuracy and sharing of epidemiological data, strengthen inter-institutional coordination and ensure the sustainability of national health security capacities.