Accra, April 17, 2025 — In a major stride towards enhancing the country’s emergency preparedness, the Ghana Health Service, with technical and financial support from the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has successfully concluded a three-day Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) Training Workshop.

Held from April 14 to 16 in Accra, the workshop brought together PHEOC staff from all 16 regions, along with representatives from key national-level departments and divisions. The training focused on strengthening Ghana’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to public health emergencies.

Participants engaged in practical sessions on real-time surveillance, risk assessment, emergency coordination, and data management—critical components for building a resilient public health response system.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Dennis Odai Laryea, Deputy Director for Surveillance, emphasized the role of accurate and timely data in shaping effective public health strategies. “Strong surveillance and reliable reporting are critical to informed decision-making and policy formulation,” he stated.

Echoing his sentiments, Prof. Ernest Kenu, Country Director for AFENET, and Dr. Danielle Barradas, Country Director for the U.S. CDC Ghana, underscored the importance of continuous training and capacity building in addressing emerging and re-emerging health threats. Both leaders reaffirmed their organizations’ ongoing support for Ghana’s surveillance infrastructure and emergency preparedness efforts.

The successful completion of this workshop marks a pivotal step in strengthening both national and regional response systems, positioning Ghana to better tackle future public health emergencies with coordination, resilience, and confidence.

Credit: Ghana Health Service