Ethiopia has taken a huge step in strengthening its public health emergency response capability with the winning completion of the Third cohort African Volunteers Health Corps – Strengthening and Using Response Groups for Emergencies Corps (AVoHC-SURGE) Onboarding Coaching in Adama metropolis thirteenth January to thirteenth February 2025. A crammed with 114 multidisciplinary public health consultants graduated from the intensive four-week program, equipping them with serious skills for rapid deployment within 24 to 48 hours throughout public health emergencies. In full, Ethiopia has trained and licensed 304 selection of AVoHC-SURGE contributors throughout all areas in three cohorts, who are readily and out of the blue deployable in emergency response. Ethiopia has dedicated to practicing 700 AVoHC-SURGE responders by 2026. The practicing led by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and supported by the World Health Group (WHO), is segment of a broader effort to toughen the continent’s emergency response capabilities.
The practicing program aligns with the Emergency Preparedness and Response Flagship Initiative launched by WHO AFRO and Africa CDC, which objectives to strengthen Africa’s capacity to detect, put together for, and respond to health emergencies. The AVoHC-SURGE ingredient of the initiative specializes in rapid and effective response, guaranteeing that trained mavens will likely be found for immediate deployment throughout public health response.
All over the closing ceremony on Feburary 14, 2025, high-degree representatives from EPHI, the Ethiopian Nationwide Defense Drive, the Federal Police Main Health Department, and WHO emphasised Ethiopia’s commitment to strengthening its workforce for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
The four-week face-to-face practicing lined public health emergency administration gadget, humanitarian coordination, prevention of gender-primarily based violence and exploitation, rapid response workforce (RRT) and more. With a 100% attendance fee, the program showcased the dedication of participants and the effectiveness of the practicing manner. Senior leadership from EPHI and WHO conducted abnormal supervisory visits, taking part straight with trainees and providing feedback to toughen the finding out experience.
Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director Normal of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), highlighted the broader affect of the initiative, stating:
“This training is not just about emergency response; it’s about building a resilient public health system that can withstand future threats.”
The success of the AVoHC-SURGE practicing program has been made that you’ll be think of through the Ethio-Pandemic Multisectoral Preparedness and Response (EPPR) mission, funded by the Pandemic Fund. This investment plays a very basic characteristic in strengthening Ethiopia’s emergency response infrastructure, guaranteeing the country is neatly-enthralling for future public health challenges.
Dr. Owen Licensed guidelines Kaluwa, WHO Consultant to Ethiopia, emphasised the importance of this financial backing, stating:
“The Pandemic Fund’s contribution has been instrumental in building Ethiopia’s emergency response workforce. With this assistance, we are not only training individuals; we are strengthening Ethiopia’s capability to respond swiftly and effectively to public health crises.”
The practicing program has also made predominant progress in gender inclusion, with feminine participation rising from 7% in old cohorts to 19% in the newest cohort. This marks a predominant step toward gender equity in Ethiopia’s public health workforce, reinforcing the country’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity in emergency response efforts.
Ethiopia’s persisted investment in practicing and capability constructing is paving the manner for a more resilient and enthralling public health emergency response gadget. With a rising network of trained responders, the country is healthier equipped to handle future health threats and make contributions to broader regional and global efforts in illness outbreak administration.
As these newly licensed responders stand ready for deployment, Ethiopia takes a courageous step toward a stronger, safer, and healthier future.
