MEDIA ADVISORY

Training of Trainers Workshop on Public Health Emergency Operation Centres
INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

WHAT: Training of Trainers Workshop on Public Health Emergency Operation Centres.

WHO: Representatives of AU Member States, WHO, WAHO and US CDC.

WHEN: Monday, 24 June to Wednesday, 3 July 2019

TIME: 9.00–5.00 pm daily (opening ceremony at 9.00 am on 24 June)

WHERE: Committee Rooms 1 & 2, Old Conference Centre

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Public health emergencies continue to be a major concern in Africa, thus threatening national, regional and global health security. A Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (PHEOC) serves as a hub for coordinating preparedness and response to public health emergencies. It allows a well-coordinated response to public health emergencies by teams of multi-disciplinary and multi-sectorial experts using the Incident Management System (IMS). Only 14 AU Member States currently have a PHEOC and there is a need for capacity building to support the establishment and maintenance of functional PHEOCs by all Member States.

From Monday, 24 June to Wednesday, 3 July 2019, Africa CDC, in partnership with WHO, WAHO and US CDC is conducting a training of trainers on the management and operation of PHEOCs for AU Member States to strengthen their capacity to coordinate, prepare for and respond to public health emergencies appropriately. Through this training, trainees are expected to acquire skills that will enable them to use IMS for the overall operations and management of PHEOCs and to conduct onsite training to national staff.

Journalists are invited to attend and cover the opening ceremony at the African Union Headquarters on Monday, 24 June 2019 at 9.00 a.m.

About the Africa CDC
Africa CDC is a technical institution of the African Union established to strengthen the capacity, capability and partnerships of Africa’s public health institutions to detect and respond quickly and effectively to disease threats based on science, policy and data-driven interventions and programmes.

Learn more at: http://www.africacdc.org

About the African Union
The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens. AU Vision: to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission.
Learn more at: http://www.au.int/en

For more information:
Dr Wessam MANKOULA, Lead of Africa CDC Emergency Operation Centre, WessamM@africa-union.org

Dr Idowu Lateef, Public Health Fellow, Africa CDC, lateefi@africa-union.org

Media contact:
Mr Molalet Tsedeke, Directorate of Information and Communication, AU Commission, Tel: +251911630631, E-mail: molalett@africa-union.org