Search results: 11

Case study: Crisis management and communication during a COVID-19 outbreak among foreign temporary workers

This Case study aims at local community outbreak response teams. 

Case study objectives:

  1. Determine the responsibilities of the municipality and of the employer in outbreak response. 

  2. Propose a plan for the recording of foreign temporary workers for public health purposes.  

  3. Identify communication channels and feedback loops between different key actors. 

  4. Determine potential barriers to compliance with control measures. 

  5. Integrate ‘lessons learned' from an outbreak into the municipal preparedness plan.


It's designed to be delivered face-to-face to a group of 4-14 individuals, including:

  • employees of the local administration and municipal public health service;
  • employers of foreign temporary workers;
  • employees of other municipal institutions, such as social services, or NGOs. 


This case study presented by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control was developed with contribution of experts from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Category: Case studies
Contact tracing in the context of COVID-19 response

This e-learning course is non-moderated and self-paced. You can decide when to start it, interrupt and resume to continue at any time. In total, the course is designed to take approximately 2 hours to complete.


Duration: 2 hours.


Audience: Public health professionals.


Objectives: After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Explain to decision makers the importance of contact tracing as public health measure in the context of COVID-19;
  • Adapt to the local context the processes of contact tracing for COVID-19;
  • Identify ways to scale up contact tracing and reflect on how to adapt them to the local context;
  • Understand the benefits and risks of using mobile applications to undertake contact tracing;
  • Identify indicators to measure the efficacy and effectiveness of contact tracing operations;

  • Recognise the importance of contact tracing data analysis.


Participation:


e-learning for front-line managers on COVID-19 prevention and response to vulnerable populations (V2)

This e-learning course is designed for front-line managers of institutions hosting or serving people who are medically or socially vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19. It is a non-moderated and self-paced course. You can decide when to start it, interrupt and resume to continue at any time. In total, the course is designed to take from 1.5 to 2 hours to complete. The version 2.0 of this course, from March 2022, introduces vaccination to the course and contains revised infection prevention and control measures and contact tracing practices aligned with the most recent ECDC guidance.


Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours.


Audience: Front-line managers of institutions hosting or serving people who are medically or socially vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19.


Objective: After completing this course, participants will be able to:

  • Define some groups that are medically or socially vulnerable to COVID-19;
  • Identify the good practices developed in the EU/EEA in order to support these populations;
  • Identify the special provisions to mitigate the challenges of people in:
    • Long-term care facilities (LTCFs);
    • Prisons;
    • Migration and detention centres.

Participation: This course is open for public enrolment.


GenEpi-BioTrain - Virtual Training 03: Introduction to bioinformatic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 amplicon sequencing data

The aim of this virtual training is to introduce participants to theoretical and practical aspects of analysing SARS-CoV-2 amplicon sequence data (mainly ARTIC amplicon panels) from single patient samples. Participants will get insights into the background of amplicon panels, analysis steps and tools, as well as data quality control.


Duration: Two half-days on 25 and 26 September 2023


Location: Online - Find the link after enrolment. 


Audience:  Experts interested in analysing amplicon sequencing data of SARS-CoV-2 with the DRAGEN COVID Lineage on the Illumina BaseSpace cloud. A free Illumina BaseSpace account is required and should be registered before the training.


Objective:  After completing this training, you will be able to conduct a basic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 amplicon sequencing data to detect mutations and determine the variant. You will have a basic understanding of the analysis steps and quality control parameters.


Participation: The recordings of this course are open for public enrolment.

Management and Facilitation of a Country COVID-19 Intra-Action Review (IAR)

Management and Facilitation of a Country COVID-19 Intra-Action Review (IAR)


The Country COVID-19 Intra-Action Review (IAR) is a facilitated process that brings together COVID-19 responders from multiple sectors for experience sharing and collective learning, and it has been modelled after the WHO After Action Review (AAR) methodology. This course provides a general introduction to the management and the facilitation of an IAR during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through presentations, quizzes and an assessment at the end of the course to test the knowledge acquired.


Duration: Approximately 2 hours.


Audience: It targets any individuals or entities involved in the preparedness of and response to the COVID-19 outbreak at the national or subnational levels, including but not limited to Government officials, WHO staff, public health professionals, communities and partners.


Objectives: By the end of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Explain the context and the purpose of a Country COVID-19 IAR;
  • Describe the general flow of the Country COVID-19 IAR process;
  • Describe the resources available for conducting an IAR, when to use them, and where to find them;
  • Distinguish the roles and responsibilities of the IAR lead coordinator, facilitators, moderator, note-takers and report writer, IT support, and participants in the IAR process and describe the techniques for participatory facilitation and tips for online facilitation


Participation: This course is open for public enrollment.



Provider: Open WHO


Note: This course was curated by EPIC 11 in 2024.
The EPIC11 project, funded by the European Commission, supports EU Regulation 2022/2371 on cross-border health threats. It develops training for health specialists to enhance emergency preparedness across the EU. This course was selected as part of a 2024 training inventory listing relevant trainings on prevention, preparedness, and response planning in EU and EEA countries, complementing EPIC11’s programme. 




Micro learning - COVID-19 infection prevention and control

The aim of this micro-learning is to provide information on the measures for infection prevention and control (IPC) at the household level when assisting suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases with mild symptoms.


Duration: 15 minutes.


Audience: Public Health Professionals.


Objectives: After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify the instructions to give to your patients who are taking care of a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19 in the household.


Participation: This course is open for public enrolment.


Resilience of Local Governments: A multi-sectoral approach to integrate public health and disaster risk management

Resilience of Local Governments: A multi-sectoral approach to integrate public health and disaster risk management


All communities are at risk of emergencies and di­sasters, including those associated with natural hazards, infectious disease outbreaks, conflicts, technological and other hazards.  Particularly in the context of increased urbanization and climate change, frequency, severity and impact of those events are crucial. The health, economic, political and societal consequences of these hazards can be devastating for developed and developing countries.

Currently, countries face the COVID-19 pandemic with millions of cases and thousands of deaths confirmed worldwide, demonstrating the profound impact that pandemics have for public health systems and for other systems within the city/country.  The COVID-19 pandemic is an example of the need for a comprehensive resilience and risk reduction plan that involves all sectors and actors in society.

In line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, SDG 11.B and SDG 3.D, this e-Learning Course offered by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and its Global Education and Training Institute (GETI), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) aims to contribute to strengthening the capacity of local government officials for risk reduction and resilience planning inclusive of health threats management.

In view of current and emerging risks to public health and the need for more effective coordination and management of resources, this course presents two frameworks that provide guidance on how to integrate public health systems and disaster risk management:

UNDRR’s Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities: Public Health System Resilience - Addendum Consultative Version 2.0 aims to serve as a tool to strengthen the local governance resilience by ensuring that public health issues are taken into consideration when planning for disaster risk reduction/resilience.

WHO’s Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework (Health EDRM) provides a comprehensive approach that can be applied by all actors in health and other sectors who are working to reduce health risks and consequences of emergencies and disasters, and build the resilience of health systems, communities and countries.


Duration: 3 weeks.


Audience: 

  • Government officials
  • Health professionals
  • Disaster management professionals
  • Academic and training institutions working on disaster risk management


Objectives: In line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, SDG 11.B and SDG 3.D, this e-Learning Course aims to contribute to strengthening the capacity of local government officials for risk reduction and resilience planning inclusive of health threats management. At the end of each module, participants will be able to:

Module 1:

  • Recognize the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities;
  • Recognize and utilize the Public Health Addendum as a supplement to UNDRR’s Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities developed to help address the public health implications of major disasters.

Module 2:

  • Identify policy considerations to reduce risks and con­sequences of emergencies and disasters;
  • Recognize concepts, guiding principles, components and functions of effec­tive Health EDRM.

Module 3:

  • Utilize the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities: Public Health System Resilience Addendum Consultative Version 2.0 as a tool to strengthen and integrate coverage of the many aspects of public health that are relevant to disaster planning, mitigation and response, helping to ensure the integration of public health issues in disaster risk management.


Participation: This course is open for public enrollment.



Provider: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Global Education and Training Institute


Note: 
This course was curated by EPIC 11 in 2024.
The EPIC11 project, funded by the European Commission, supports EU Regulation 2022/2371 on cross-border health threats. It develops training for health specialists to enhance emergency preparedness across the EU. This course was selected as part of a 2024 training inventory listing relevant trainings on prevention, preparedness, and response planning in EU and EEA countries, complementing EPIC11’s programme. 


The AURORAE training programme: Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 laboratory training for Europe

This is a common space to all nominated participants of any training activity of the AURORAE Training Programme 2022-2025.

The overall objectives of the AURORAE trainings are to support countries in building capacities in the areas of diagnosis, detection, identification and characterisation of primarily influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Courses may include topics like diagnostic methods, molecular typing, sampling strategies for disease surveillance and for detection, use and limitation of test methods, testing strategies, test interpretation, bioinformatics, biosafety issues, shipment of infectious material, quality assurance, as well as capacity gaps identified through EQAs and/or surveys.
The training formats include face-to-face training courses (wetlab and drylab), twinning visits of various durations, and virtual trainings (webinars, instructive videos, self-paced online trainings). 

It contains links to training events and to the respective training materials. Click here to read more about AURORAE.

The AURORAE consortium

Experts of twelve institutes from eight European countries together were awarded a new framework contract by the ECDC in 2022, to provide "support to microbiology-related activities and capacity building focusing on COVID-19 and influenza in the EU/EEA, the Western Balkans and Türkiye. Laboratory support, training, and standardisation”. The consortium was named AURORAE (lAboratory sUppoRt fOr influenza and SARS coRonAvirus 2 for Europe) and activities started on 23rd June 2022 and will run over a four year period.

The Consortium is coordinated by National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Netherlands. The project coordinator is Adam Meijer (RIVM, Netherlands). 

AURORAE is composed of the following institutes:
  • Sciensano (SCIN), Belgium
  • Institut Pasteur (IP), France
  • Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL), France
  • Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (CU), Germany
  • Robert Koch-Institute (RKI), Germany
  • Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece
  • Hellenic Pasteur Institute (HPI), Greece
  • Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Luxembourg
  • National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Netherlands
  • Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam (EMC), Netherlands
  • Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Norway
  • National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Portugal


Category: Courses to restricted audiences
The Role of Parliaments and Parliamentarians in Strengthening Health Security Preparedness

The Role of Parliaments and Parliamentarians in Strengthening Health Security Preparedness


This course delineates the role of parliaments in fortifying health emergency preparedness and health security, developed based on the handbook titled "Strengthening health security preparedness: The International Health Regulations (2005)" jointly published by WHO and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) are legally binding for all countries, mandating the establishment and maintenance of core capacities for surveillance and response to public health risks and emergencies. These regulations aim to prevent, protect against, control, and respond to the international spread of disease in ways that align with public health risks, while minimizing interference with international traffic and trade.

As outlined in the 2021 WHA 73.8 Resolution on Strengthening Preparedness for Health Emergencies: Implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), WHO Member States have acknowledged the fundamental role of parliaments in enhancing capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to public health risks, as well as in promoting and adopting the IHR (2005). Furthermore, they have emphasized the importance of parliaments in facilitating all-inclusive multisectoral coordination for health emergency preparedness.

Effective response to health emergencies necessitates thorough multisectoral preparedness coordination. Parliaments and parliamentarians are pivotal in this regard. This course provides participants with an in-depth understanding of how parliamentarians can utilize their diverse roles and positions to advocate, lead, and prioritize improved emergency preparedness and health security. Leveraging parliamentary functions such as law-making, oversight, accountability, and budgetary approval, alongside individual opportunities as representatives and community leaders, is essential to ensuring that emergency preparedness remains a priority and that the devastating impact of COVID-19 and other health emergencies is mitigated. Participants will receive practical suggestions, actionable recommendations, and additional resources for parliamentary engagement to bolster health emergency preparedness.


Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours.


Audience: The primary audience for this course includes parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, government officials, members of international organizations, and individuals working with or interested in working with parliaments, parliamentarians, as well as those involved in health emergency preparedness and health security.


Objectives: What you'll learn: 

  • Explain the various global and domestic functions of parliaments and parliamentarians to help achieve health emergency preparedness and health security.
  • Recognize the unique role of parliaments and parliamentarians in advocating for and achieving health emergency preparedness and health security.
  • Explain practical suggestions, actionable recommendations, and further resources


Participation: This course is open for public enrollment. 



Provider: Open WHO


Note: This course was curated by EPIC 11 in 2024.
The EPIC11 project, funded by the European Commission, supports EU Regulation 2022/2371 on cross-border health threats. It develops training for health specialists to enhance emergency preparedness across the EU. This course was selected as part of a 2024 training inventory listing relevant trainings on prevention, preparedness, and response planning in EU and EEA countries, complementing EPIC11’s programme. 




Understanding Vaccine Acceptance & Strategies to Increase Vaccine Uptake

This e-learning course, developed in November 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, aims at increasing understanding of the drivers of vaccine acceptance and design targeted strategies to increase vaccine uptake. 

⏳ Duration: 30 minutes

👥 Audience: Healthcare workers, health promoters/health promotion managers, civil society organisations working at national and sub-national levels working on vaccination or in vaccination programs. Public health and risk communication professionals may also be interested in the concepts and strategies introduced.

🎯 Objectives: After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the 5C model and advocate for its use in diagnosing barriers to vaccine acceptance and uptake, and in designing adapted strategies.
  • Describe why diagnosing the barriers to vaccine acceptance and uptake is essential, and recognise the data collection tools that may be used.
  • Understand the need to evaluate behaviour change interventions, and describe how this may be done considering the complexity of causality in behavioural interventions.
WHO EMRO UNSSC Leadership Programme on Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Response COVID19 Pandemic Cohort

WHO EMRO UNSSC Leadership Programme on Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Response COVID19 Pandemic Cohort


Epidemics and pandemics pose unique challenges to public health leaders. The COVID-19 pandemic is an embodiment of this reality. During the response phase of a health crisis like COVID-19, public health leaders work under stressful conditions to save lives, build and sustain the morale of their teams, engage with diverse partners and communicate confidently - and yet they are expected to maintain a strategic focus at all times. The Leadership Programme on Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Response addresses these stressors and provides insights from a variety of top-notch experts in the field. 


Duration: No information.


Audience: WHO country representatives in the Eastern Mediterranean region and national counterparts.


Objectives: By the end of this course, you should be able to:

  • Lead more comfortably in times of uncertainty
  • Manage (remote) teams in times of uncertainty
  • Build emotional and individual resilience
  • Communicate more effectively, internally and externally
  • Partner more effectively
  • Gain insights from leaders in the field and
  • Gain knowledge of large scale emergency preparedness and response 


Participation: The programme will be accessible for invite-only participants.



Provider: Open WHO


Note: This course was curated by EPIC 11 in 2024.
The EPIC11 project, funded by the European Commission, supports EU Regulation 2022/2371 on cross-border health threats. It develops training for health specialists to enhance emergency preparedness across the EU. This course was selected as part of a 2024 training inventory listing relevant trainings on prevention, preparedness, and response planning in EU and EEA countries, complementing EPIC11’s programme.