The World Health Organization (WHO) has inaugurated the AVoCH-SURGE training programme at the Chances Hotel in Ho, Volta Region. This significant initiative aims to enhance Ghana's readiness to respond to health emergencies, reflecting the critical need for preparedness and rapid action in times of crisis.

Dr Argata Guracha Guyo, WHO Country Emergency Preparedness/IHR Officer, delivered the opening remarks on behalf of Dr Frank Lule, Officer in Charge of WHO Ghana. Dr Guyo emphasized the essential role of preparedness in protecting lives during health crises, noting the increasing complexity and frequency of such emergencies.

He praised Africa's history of resilience and solidarity in facing adversity but stressed the need for continuous improvement in skills, knowledge, and coordination.

"Recent events have underscored the critical importance of preparedness and swift action in health crises. Our ability to protect and save lives hinges on our readiness and expertise," Dr Guyo stated.

The WHO has specific obligations for health emergency operations as mandated by global instruments like the International Health Regulations (2005), the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), and the WHO General Programmes of Work.

One of WHO's strategic priorities is building and maintaining robust capacities at national, regional, and global levels to safeguard against epidemics and other health emergencies.

In early 2022, the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) launched an innovative approach to strengthen health emergency preparedness and response (EPR) in the African region. This approach includes three key initiatives:

Detect - Transforming African Surveillance System (TASS), aimed at creating stronger, integrated surveillance systems across Africa to detect and respond to outbreaks promptly.

Prepare - Promoting Resilience of Systems for Emergencies (PROSE), designed to enhance countries' ability to plan for and anticipate health emergencies.

Respond - Strengthening and Utilizing Response Groups for Emergencies (SURGE), ensuring governments can mobilize resources and respond effectively to public health emergencies.

The AVoCH-SURGE training is a collaborative effort between Africa CDC and WHO, targeting swift response capabilities within 24 to 48 hours of an incident. Ghana is among the 20 countries benefiting from this training, which includes comprehensive sessions over four weeks, covering four modules. The sessions are led by seasoned professionals and experts from the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, and WHO country and regional offices.

Participants are encouraged to engage actively, ask questions, and share experiences to foster collective knowledge and teamwork. Dr. Guyo highlighted the long-term benefits of the training, stating, "At the end of this one-month course, you become an asset to Ghana, the African region, and even beyond as you can be deployed to provide support where it’s needed."

Director of Public Health Asiedu Bekoe also expressed confidence in Ghana's improved preparedness, particularly in surveillance, case management, and risk communication, underscoring the importance of the training for the 50 selected health workers.

The WHO extended gratitude to the trainers and organizers whose dedication and support are crucial to building a resilient health emergency response system in Ghana and across Africa.

This training marks a significant step forward in enhancing Ghana's health emergency response capabilities, ensuring a safer and more prepared future for the nation and the continent.