Prime minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has asked African countries to join hands in fighting disease outbreaks.
Opening a conference by health ministers from the East, Central and Southern Africa, Rugunda said this will help control deaths and offer quick response.
He cited the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which he says should have been controlled early if countries had cooperated in time.
He says the lack of coordination has also affected the targets set universally because there is no unity.
Rugunda also called upon players in the health sector to focus on working with policy makers and the general public in sensitizing the masses on avoiding diseases rather than wait to treat them.
Nine countries have been represented at the conference.
Story by Dianah Wanyana
