Role of Public Health Emergency Operations Centres

Given this complexity and the challenges faced, it is crucial to have a strong national coordination mechanism available for early detection, timely investigation and adequate response to public health emergencies. Public Health Emergency Operations Centres (PHEOCs) play an essential role in strengthening Member States’ emergency management capacities, while supporting obligations under the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005). All Member States of the WHO African Region urgently need to have fully functional PHEOCs.

Such Centres operate as a hub for coordinating the preparation for and response to public health emergencies. They bring together a multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral team of experts to coordinate efforts using an Incident Management System. This will enable better collaboration and communication, along with real-time information while performing preparedness and response interventions. Thus, PHEOCs support evidence-based decision making and a more effective management of public health emergencies.

The mission

The African EOC Network was established in November 2015 by the WHO Regional Office for Africa in coordination with the WHO Health Emergencies Programme. The Network is a key regional platform for collaboration, communication, and the exchange of information for ultimately improving the quality and efficiency of public health emergency management. It encourages the sharing of experiences and best practices. Moreover, the Network seeks to build and sustain national capacity to manage public health emergencies at all levels of the health system. The Network will act as a platform for enhancing partnerships and the synergy of national, regional and global efforts to support countries in the WHO African Region.

Vision

All Member States of the WHO African Region will have Public Health Emergency Operations Centres with full capacity to coordinate the preparation for and response to public health emergencies. These national operations centres will be part of a Region-wide network hosted by WHO and supported by a broad partnership of stakeholders.

Purpose

The Network is designed to improve regional collaboration, coordination and information-sharing in the management of operations and response to public health emergencies by strengthening linkages among public health emergency operations centres in the African Region. As such, this complies with the mandate laid down in the International Health Regulations (2005) to strengthen health security. Improved health security will ultimately lead to reduced morbidity, mortality and disability.

Objectives

• Strengthen the capacity of national PHEOCs to respond to emergencies through available procedures, an adequate infrastructure, and a qualified workforce;
• Ensure the sharing of experiences and best practices, including innovative approaches to resource mobilization;
• Increase regular communication and information-sharing for monitoring health trends in public health events, updating countries’ profiles and strengthening existing regional capacity for the containment of health threats;
• Enhance advocacy, partnership, and collaboration for operationalization and sustainability of the Regional network

Scope of activities

The proposed roles and responsibilities of the African PHEOC Network at country and regional level include the following tasks:

At Country level:

• Assist in setting up functional Public Health Emergency Operations Centres;
• Ensure adequate implementation of the WHO Framework for Emergency Operations Centres;
• Facilitate real-time communication and information sharing between Member States and relevant stakeholders through the communication platform;
• Facilitate the engagement of partners and all relevant stakeholders in timely preparedness and response interventions
• Provide operational support during response to public health emergency when necessary
• Maintain accessible updated databases on national public health PHEOC profiles and capacities;
• Document and share best practices and lessons learnt within the Network;
• Coordinate and synergize national efforts to strengthen and sustain public health PHEOC capacities using existing national frameworks for public health security and emergencies.

At Regional level

• Support the development of norms and standards for the public health PHEOCs and the Network;
• Share expertise, lessons and experiences in building, evaluating, exercising and utilizing PHEOCs for public health emergency response;
• Provide technical assistance for the full implementation of the WHO PHEOC Framework by members of the network;
• Guarantee sufficient regional skilled and trained public health PHEOC experts available to support capacity building;
• Strengthen national capacities in public health PHEOCs through the provision of training and conducting exercises to ensure the PHEOC’s readiness for response;
• Enhance real-time communication and information sharing between Member States and relevant stakeholders through the common regional network platform;
• Conduct high-level advocacy and build partnerships that support Member States in emergencies
• Develop and implement regional strategic plans to address the specific needs of members of the network;
• Contribute to the ongoing efforts of stakeholders to mobilize resources for the PHEOC network;
• Ensure the communication, collaboration and coordination with other existing global PHEOC networks (link)

Management

• The regional PHEOC network is administered by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa under the WHO Health Emergencies Programme.

• The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa is the secretariat of the PHEOC network.

Membership

• Public Health Emergency Operations Centres or National Emergency Operations Centres in Member States of the WHO AFRO region can be members of the African PHEOC network.

• The Public Health Emergency Operations Centres of national disaster agencies, regional agencies, nongovernmental organizations, private sectors, and other relevant institutions and individuals can also become members of the African EOC network.

Communication platform

• Holds regular meetings (both virtual and face to face)

• Provides a SharePoint interface as a common workspace for the network

• Provides a generic email address to facilitate communication

• Is based on an African public health PHEOC network homepage on the WHO AFRO website

• Makes use of other innovative mechanisms of information sharing using information technology capabilities

• Issues biannual newsletters

• Provides publications and other information resources online, including papers in peer reviewed journals