April 8, 2025 (Entebbe, Uganda): Since yesterday, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through its Regional Preparedness for Pandemic Response (PREPARE) Project, have been conducting a Regional Training of Trainers (ToTs) on Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM). This initiative aims to equip One Health (OH) teams across IGAD Member States with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively prepare for, detect early, and respond rapidly to zoonoses and other public health emergencies, especially in cross-border areas and Points of Entry (PoEs) within the IGAD region.
The training will enhance participants’ abilities by aligning with regional One Health approaches and strategies, enabling them to mentor health professionals and community health workers in identifying, tracking, and responding to outbreaks of zoonotic, environmental, and other public health emergencies. A key focus will be on strengthening community and event-based surveillance systems and harmonizing information sharing.
Ms. Joselyn Bigirwa, Head of Mission to the Republic of Uganda and representative of the Executive Secretary of IGAD, commended the dedication and commitment of the Member States and partners. She emphasized that effective mitigation, control, and management of zoonotic diseases require coordinated action and collaboration among various stakeholders, including public health agencies, veterinary services, environmental health organizations, wildlife services, development partners, and other relevant entities.
“All our efforts align with the continental and Member State priorities to strengthen health security capacities and facilitate the implementation of the International Health Regulations. Continuous training for our trainers is essential for mentoring others at community, national, and regional levels, enabling ongoing risk communication and sensitization of trainers, trainees, and communities,” stated Ms. Bigirwa.
Dr. Edith Namutebi, Minister Counselor of the Peace and Security Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Uganda, reinforced the need to strengthen community and event-based surveillance systems and harmonize information sharing in priority border areas and PoEs in the region.
On behalf of the WHO Representative in Uganda, Dr. Andrew Bakainaga, Country Advisor for the District Health Management Cluster, expressed appreciation for IGAD and its partners’ efforts in collaborating with WHO to support countries in building a skilled and resilient health workforce prepared to respond to emergencies.
“High-quality training in public health emergency management is vital for improving safety during crises that disproportionately impact the African region compared to other WHO regions. Previous emergencies have shown that even the most skilled professionals require ongoing education to effectively and safely address 21st-century threats,” Dr. Bakainaga stated.
On behalf of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Ms. Hanna Mekonnen, Community Health Coordinator for the IFRC Africa-Health and Care Department, expressed gratitude to The Pandemic Fund, supported by WHO and IGAD, for enabling Member States to develop a regional pandemic preparedness and response system. This initiative aims to strengthen border areas and One Health systems through partnerships, collaborative mechanisms, and adherence to the 717 principles for outbreak response.
The meeting was opened by Dr. Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services in the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uganda. In his address, he encouraged regional trainers to seize this training opportunity to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges, evaluate strategies, and refine both national and regional responses.
“By equipping a multi-sectoral workforce with the skills necessary to coordinate preparedness, surveillance, and effective responses at all levels—especially in our border regions—Uganda is proud to host this initiative, sharing our expertise in Public Health Emergency Operations Centres, Event-Based Surveillance systems, and multisectoral outbreak responses,” Dr. Olaro concluded.
The keynote speakers highlighted the importance of enhancing the capacities of Member States through regional collaboration, coordinated action, surveillance and monitoring, information sharing, and public sensitization, among other key factors for improved global health security.
During the meeting, discussions centered on the core elements of Public Health Emergency Operations Centres, essential considerations, and strategies to strengthen PHEM training in subnational and cross-border contexts. Key topics included the purpose and role of Incident Management Systems (IMS), its pillars and core functions, as well as the Concept of Operations (CONOPs).
The regional Training of Trainers (ToT), aligned with IGAD’s mandate via the Pandemic Preparedness Project, aims to mitigate the impact of epidemics and pandemics by establishing integrated cross-border systems, facilities, and a workforce that adheres to the One Health (OH) Framework.
Participants included senior technical officers from Ministries of Health and related One Health ministries, along with representatives from the IFRC, Member State Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Africa CDC, and IGAD. Additionally, technical experts with extensive training experience from the region were also in attendance.
