WHO teams in the Eastern Mediterranean and African Regions have come together to invigorate capacity-building efforts under the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework.
We are fully aware that the world is still in the midst of a crisis, and that one might argue that it is too early to start talking of preparing for future pandemics. We disagree. Now is the right time to talk about the future and about the changes that need to happen to improve our capacities for pandemic preparedness and response.
Dr Abdinasir Abubakar, Manager, Infectious Hazard Prevention and Preparedness, WHO Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranean.
Since 2014, WHO’s African and Eastern Mediterranean Regions have seen great gains in preparedness capacities. Four countries added designated National Influenza Centres, 15 countries started sharing influenza viruses with WHO Collaborating Centres, 8 started participating in the molecular external quality assessment programme, and 27 started sharing virological or epidemiological data with global platforms to inform risk assessment (see PIP Biennial Progress Report). The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily shifted attention away from preparedness but it also enabled countries in both regions to put capacities into practice.
Now, after two years of being unable to meet in person, these two regions have brought country teams together to invigorate Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework capacity-building efforts. WHO gathered representatives from the ten PIP countries in its Eastern Mediterranean Region together in May in Amman, Jordan and six of the PIP countries in the African Region in June in Ndjamena, Chad. The meetings were attended by WHO staff at country, regional and headquarter levels, and in the case of the African Region, Ministry of Health representatives, to review progress, reflect on workplans, discuss challenges, and propose innovative approaches to maximize efficiency and coherence in implementation.
At the meetings countries shared experiences, lessons, and ideas and deliberated about opportunities for further strengthening preparedness at the country level. During the African Region meeting, countries forged partnerships and made plans to visit and support each other to strengthen laboratory practices. At the Eastern Mediterranean Region meeting, participants identified common themes, ways to address the challenges caused by emergencies in the region, and innovative ideas for strengthening project management.
Moving forward, countries in both regions will work to integrate influenza and respiratory pathogen systems for more effective capacity building efforts.
