WHO’s work in support of Global Capacities, Alert and Response, under IHR (2005) aims at:
- further developing and maintaining an effective international system that is able to continuously assess the global context of public health risks and is prepared to respond rapidly to unexpected, internationally-spreading events and to contain specific public health threats.
- providing guidance and support to countries to build strong national public health systems that can maintain active surveillance of diseases and public health events; rapidly investigate detected events; report and assess public health risk; share information; and implement public health control measures.
Emergency Committee on MERS-CoV
The Emergency Committee is made up of international experts to provide technical advice to the WHO Director-General in the context of a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC). Depending on the circumstances, the Emergency Committee may advise on whether or not a PHEIC is occurring . If the Director-General determines that the event constitutes a PHEIC, the Emergency Committee will then provide advice on appropriate Temporary Recommendations of health measures to be implemented by States Parties. As a PHEIC proceeds, the Emergency Committee continues to provide advice to the Director-General.
Public Health Emergency Operations Centre Network (EOC-NET) Report
Public health emergency operations centres (EOC) play critical roles in preparing for, and responding to public health events and emergencies. The WHO Department of Global Capacities, Alert and Response (GCR) organized a consultation meeting on public health EOC collaboration on 19–20 November 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Public Health Emergency Operations Centres Network (EOC-NET) was launched at the meeting. This report describes the current situation, main roles and challenges of public health EOCs, priority needs, EOC-NET objectives and next steps related to key working areas identified by participants.
Strengthening the competencies, including the knowledge and skills, of public health personnel is critical to the sustainment of public health surveillance and response at all levels of the health system and the effective implementation of the IHR.
WHO provides leadership and contributes to building the capacity of public health professionals working on the implementation of the IHR; it has fostered the development and offers a variety of learning solutions, including training activities, materials and tools, tailored to specific needs of public health workers and partner institutions.
IHR national capacities
All States Parties are required to have or to develop minimum core public health capacities to implement the IHR (2005) effective in accordance with articles 5 and 13 of the IHR (2005).