When emergencies strike – be they disease outbreaks, cyclones or earthquakes – countries are expected to activate their public health emergency operations centres (PHEOCs) to streamline actions, manage resources and share critical information.
Recognizing the crucial role of PHEOCs, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Australia's National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) brought together PHEOC managers, incident leads and the emergency surge workforce from 18 countries across the Western Pacific Region for a hands-on training from 2 to 6 June 2025.
Through interactive sessions covering various modes of emergency operations, from watch and alert to full-scale response, participants strengthened their skills for better-coordinated responses to domestic and international public health threats.
Participating Member States included: Australia, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Fiji, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.
What follows are two stories: Dr ‘Ana Mahe from Tonga and Dr Teng Srey from Cambodia.
They offer insights into how this training is shaping their approach to managing crises and talk about both challenges and successes during public health emergencies.
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Participants go through various phases of an emergency during a training designed to enhance workforce preparedness and response. Credit: WHO/Chandra Gilmore
Dr ‘Ana Mahe, Senior Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Tonga
/countries/tonga/dr-ana-mahe.jpg?sfvrsn=13d048b8_8 "Dr. Ana Mahe")
Dr ‘Ana Mahe (right) shares thoughts with Dr Ilisapeci Lasaro from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services of Fiji. Credit: WHO/Chandra Gilmore
As a Senior Medical Officer in the Communicable Disease Section, I wear many hats, from outbreak investigation to emergency response coordination.
I have led rapid response teams in Tonga and am a trained member of the Tonga Emergency Medical Assistance Team, which responds to national disasters and emergencies.
During the 2022 volcanic eruption and tsunami, my team received survivors on the main island [Tongatapu].
That moment reminded me of why we train – to be ready and to protect our people.
Public health emergency operations centres (PHEOCs) are essential before, during and after emergencies – from planning and surveillance to coordinating response and recovery.
I’ve seen this first-hand during Tonga’s dengue outbreak [this year] and the COVID-19 response. As the PHEOC focal point for Tonga, I’ve worked with WHO to develop a handbook and conduct related trainings.
Through this regional PHEOC training, I’ve gained additional skills to manage future health crises. I’ve learnt so much from counterparts across the [Western Pacific] Region who provide emergency response surge support through PHEOCs.
These opportunities foster cross-border collaboration and strengthen regional networks.
When I return home, I’ll use this experience to train others – using real scenarios, group discussions that are specific to Tonga and the Pacific region. That’s how we grow stronger together.
Dr Teng Srey, Deputy Director, Department of Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Cambodia
/countries/cambodia/dr-teng-srey.jpg?sfvrsn=c74a4c9_6 "Dr Teng Srey")
Dr Srey (left) talks with Dr Ngoc Long Vu from the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam (right).
As Deputy Director of the Department of Communicable Disease Control within Cambodia’s Ministry of Health, I have responded to many health emergencies – both within the country and across the Western Pacific.
In previous emergencies, such as COVID-19 and H5N1 (avian influenza), we had to coordinate across ministries, WHO and experts to assess risks, plan response strategies and mobilize resources quickly.
Public health emergency operations centres (PHEOCs) were a lifeline during these response efforts. Before an emergency, PHEOC guidelines enable us to prepare well.
During an emergency, we manage and coordinate through PHEOCs. We are able to collect and share real-time data, guide decisions and communicate clearly with the public and partners.
And even after an emergency, we use this coordination mechanism to review efforts and build back stronger.
Through this regional PHEOC training, I’ve gained practical skills in surveillance, logistics, outbreak management and risk communication.
More importantly, training alongside colleagues from 18 countries in the Region fosters cross-border trust, coordination and solidarity.
I’ve learnt so much from PHEOC professionals working in other countries.
There are several strategies that we can adopt in Cambodia to effectively disseminate knowledge and enhance the skills of others working in PHEOCs – both at the national and subnational level.
WHO is grateful for the invaluable support of the Government of Japan and the Australia's National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre's (NCCTRC) Public Health Operations in Emergencies for National Strengthening in the Indo-Pacific (PHOENIX) programme, which is funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Partnerships for a Healthy Region (PHR) initiative.