Negotiating health in foreign policy: an East African perspective

T his paper examines health diplomacy from an East African perspective.It argues the case for negotiating health diplomacy from the viewpoint of regional security in East Africa and makes the assertion that the regional security perspective offers a useful entry point to the development of an East African regional health strategy.It contends that peace and security are at the heart of foreign policy, and that health, as part of human security, can promote foreign policies within the region.The paper argues that developing a regional health strategy will enhance the process of bringing together diplomacy, foreign and security policy in the region.It ultimately suggests a framework for an East African health strategy and identifies the central pillars of such a strategy.