Correctly timed detection and response to public neatly being threats are fundamental to global neatly being security, particularly in international locations at chance of frequent outbreaks. As phase of its ongoing efforts to strengthen surveillance programs in line with the International Correctly being Rules (IHR 2005) and the Integrated Illness Surveillance and Response (IDSR) framework, the Ethiopian Public Correctly being Institute (EPHI), in collaboration with the World Correctly being Organization (WHO), organized a nationwide training workshop on Epidemic Intelligence from Initiate Sources (EIOS). The foremost purpose of the training used to be to fabricate nationwide capability to successfully scheme the most of open-source information for actual-time epidemic intelligence and proof-basically based completely mostly decision-making.
The workshop used to be held from March 10–14, 2025, at Kereyu Hill Resort in Adama, Ethiopia, and brought together 22 contributors from the Ministry of Correctly being (MoH), EPHI, the IHR, and One Correctly being Administrative middle, and other connected public neatly being sectors. Participants included epidemiologists, information analysts, and emergency coordinators, all of whom engaged in a comprehensive training program combining theoretical instruction with fingers-on utility of the EIOS platform.
Training classes lined a extensive fluctuate of matters, including the fundamentals of public neatly being intelligence, media monitoring, information mining, and outbreak verification. Functional case be taught—corresponding to simulated outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever and an unknown respiratory virus—equipped contributors with actual-time conditions for early warning, grief evaluate, and response coordination.
The training yielded loads of fundamental achievements. It vastly enhanced the technical capability of contributors in detecting and analyzing public neatly being threats thru open-source information. The workshop also facilitated the revision of nationwide long-established operating procedures (SOPs) connected to media monitoring and epidemic intelligence, ensuring they mirror fresh operational needs. Moreover, it strengthened collaboration among public neatly being, veterinary, and One Correctly being stakeholders, promoting a more coordinated and multisectoral potential to epidemic preparedness. Finally, the training raised consciousness of the well-known unbiased that open-source surveillance plays in improving nationwide readiness for public neatly being emergencies.
WHO equipped technical strengthen and made the EIOS platform on hand for goal correct training. Financial backing from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Abet Operations (ECHO) enabled the training.
The fingers-on potential vastly boosted participant engagement, knowledge retention, and applied skills. While the EIOS platform proved effective, some trainees initially faced challenges with navigation, underscoring the need for ongoing training and practice-up mentoring. Importantly, the workshop reinforced the fee of sustained collaboration among MoH, EPHI, WHO, and One Correctly being companions as a basis for institutionalizing epidemic intelligence within Ethiopia’s broader public neatly being surveillance framework.
General, the EIOS capability-building workshop represented a main step forward in strengthening Ethiopia’s epidemic intelligence and early warning programs. Moving forward, continued technical strengthen, refresher trainings, and stronger intersectoral coordination are advised to fabricate on these gains. Beefy integration of EIOS into the nationwide surveillance machine will further increase Ethiopia’s potential to appear forward to, detect, and reply successfully to emerging public neatly being threats.
