WHO South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Operations Centre Trainer’s Workshop: 29 July – 2 August, New Delhi, India

Health Emergency Operations Centers (HEOCs) are critical in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from public health emergencies by coordinating operational information and resources for emergency management. A critical aspect of enhancing HEOC efficacy lies in robust capacity building and training initiatives, as outlined in the Framework for Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) and underscored by Joint External Reviews, and COVID-19 Intra-Action Reviews.

With an aim to strengthen core capacities of PHEOC experts in public health emergency management, WHO South-East Asia Region conducted a regional health emergency operation centre trainers workshop from 29 July – 2 August at New Delhi, India following first global PHEOC Training of Trainers’ (Global PHEOC ToT) in November 2023.

WHO/SEARO has been actively supporting and facilitating Public Health Emergency Operations Centre Network (EOC-NET) activities to strengthen emergency management and coordination of Member States to bolster their Health Emergency Operations Centres (HEOCs) at both national and sub-national levels. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical importance of a coordinated multi-sectorial response driven by timely and actionable data. Health Emergency Operations Centers (HEOCs) emerged as pivotal hubs throughout this crisis, consolidating intelligence to inform response strategies and provide command and coordination”

 Saima Wazed; Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia

This workshop aimed to enhance the preparedness and response capacities in two stages participants first completed a pre-training self-learning online courses during early to mid-July followed by the fac-to-face trainer’s workshop. Attended by 43 participants including experts from 9 Member States (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste) who also shared their experiences and best practices.

The objective of the workshop was to update knowledge and skills of national trainers, so that furthermore they can conduct HEOC capacity building initiatives and strengthen country capacity for effective emergency management and operationalization of HEOCs in WHO South-East Asia Region.

Photo credit: WHO/SEARO