ADDIS ABABA- The 2024 Global Emergency Operations Center Stimulation Exercise (GEOCX) is crucial to identify critical gaps and highlight areas of improvement in emergency response, fostering stronger global collaboration and preparedness.
Health Minister Mekdes Daba (MD) made yesterday the above remark at the 2024 Global Emergency Operations Center Stimulation Exercise (GEOCX) hosted by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and World Health Organization (WHO).
The Minister also mentioned that by stimulating realistic global health crises, the exercise enables public health emergency management personnel to assess their capabilities, identify areas of improvement and refine response strategies.
With the increasing of health challenges worldwide, the exercise serves a huge platform to strengthening nation’s response strategies underscoring the importance of partnership.
However, global pandemic like COVID-19 underscored the need for a system capable of rapid response to unexpected health crises. Cognizant to this fact, Ethiopia has made significant investment in health emergency preparedness.
The country conducts regular risk profiling across all level and develop comprehensive preparedness and response plans through One Health approach, as to her.
“Our commitment goes beyond digitalizing disease surveillance. We established Public Health Emergency Operation Centers at various levels.”
EPHI Public Health Emergency Management Director General Mesay Hailu (MD) said the exercise serve the country in identifying critical resource needs, develop proactive strategies and ensure more resilient and responsive health system.
Highlighting that the institute is playing a significant role in strengthening public health system and ensuring preparedness for and response to public health emergencies, he noted that EPHI has been conducting simulation exercise in concert with WHO country office, UNCDC, UKHSA and other partners as part of strengthening and monitoring status of IHR core competencies.
Hence, he indicated that the exercise help the nation in testing national and subnational PHEOCS capacity as well as building partnership to meet health challenges ahead.
WHO Acting Representative Nonhlanhla Dlamini (MD) highlighted that Ethiopia, by partaking in this global event, the country has showcased its capability in emergency management to safeguarding health and well-being of its people.
“Asa host of the Global exercise, Ethiopia joins the global community in demonstrating its commitment to the global health security efforts in confronting public health emergencies regardless of origin,” she underscored.
EPHI and WHO hosted the 2024 Global Emergency Operations Center Stimulation Exercise (GEOCX) aiming to bolster the capacity of Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOC) worldwide to prepare for and respond to health emergencies, it was learned.
BY BETELHEM BEDLU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2024
