Join us on Wednesday November 9 for a webinar on Strengthening HIS Governance for Global Health Security – Findings from a Landscape Assessment in MENA.
Emergent zoonoses are a growing public health threat globally, and especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, in the last two decades, emerging zoonotic diseases have been reported in 18 out of 22 countries in the region, often, with explosive outbreaks and high fatalities never seen in any other WHO region. Key global health security measurements were established prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the International Health Regulations (IHR), the Global Health Security (GHS) Index, Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), Joint External Evaluations (JEEs), and corresponding national health security plans. However, there is anecdotal evidence that regional and country level information and data collection systems need to be updated.
To better understand the extent of gaps and challenges, USAID Bureau for Middle East commissioned a landscape assessment of data systems that support regional decision making on GHSA activities for the MENA region. The assessment was conducted between July 2021 – June 2022 with technical support from the Country Health Information Systems and Data Use (CHISU) project. The objective of this work was to facilitate better availability of, and access to, organized health information for MENA countries. The assessment was conducted in consultation with WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) Department of Science, Information and Dissemination, in 11 selected countries: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen.
This webinar will explore some of the issues arising from the insights gathered from stakeholders through this effort, using a country, regional as well as a global lens including:
Priority human and zoonotic diseases currently reported by each country
Opportunities for rationalization of indicators
HIS gaps requiring future programming
How multi-country platforms can contribute to strengthening global health security for preventing, detecting, and responding to pandemic threats
The webinar will also discuss the varying approaches that countries took to respond to these challenges and the implications for their health information system at the time, and at present.
Speakers:
Lora Alsawalha, National Professional Officer, WHO Jordan
Dr. Henry Doctor, Coordinator, Information Systems for Health
Division of Science, Information and Dissemination, WHO EMRO
Amy Kay, Senior Health Advisor, USAID/MENA
Mary Linehan, Health Advisor, USAID/Tunisia
Moderator:
Derek Kunaka, Technical Director, CHISU
In case you missed any of CHISU's previous webinar events, please visit our YouTube page.
