Story 15 September 2026 WHO strengthens public health preparedness and response at Yemen’s points of entry 15 September 2026, Aden, Yemen With funding from the Pandemic Fund, the World Health Organization (WHO), in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health and Population, has concluded a 3-day training-of-trainers (ToT) aimed at strengthening public health preparedness and response capacities at points of entry, in line with the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR). Held from 29 to 31 August in Aden, the training brought together representatives from the Ministry of Public Health and Population, the national IHR focal point team, public health and surveillance teams, points of entry health authorities, emergency response teams, animal and environmental health sectors, WHO and partners.Airports, seaports and land crossings play an important role in helping countries prevent health threats from spreading through international travel, transport and trade. Under the IHR, countries are required to develop and maintain core capacities to prevent, prepare for, detect, assess, notify and respond to public health risks that may cross borders.In Yemen, where prolonged conflict, population movement, fragile health infrastructure and recurrent outbreaks of communicable diseases continue to place pressure on the health system, it is essential to reinforce these capacities. Over 3 days, participants strengthened their knowledge and practical skills related to IHR core capacities at points of entry. The training covered early detection and notification of public health events, risk assessment, surveillance, public health event management, emergency contingency planning, ship sanitation and aircraft inspection, vector surveillance and control, water safety, sanitation and hygiene, food safety, risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control, management of chemical and radiological events, cargo and container inspection and animal movement management and quarantine. Using a participatory approach, sessions combined technical presentations with group discussions, case studies, exercises and simulations. Participants reviewed standard operating procedures and reporting tools and worked together to identify operational gaps and priority actions for strengthening preparedness and response.Strengthening coordination and information-sharing between points of entry authorities, surveillance teams, emergency response structures and national IHR focal points was a key focus. Effective IHR implementation requires close multisectoral collaboration across health, border management, transport, customs, immigration, animal health, environment and other sectors. The programme aimed to establish a cadre of qualified trainers to cascade the knowledge and skills gained through participating in the ToT to other points of entry personnel, supporting capacity-building activities across Yemen.By strengthening knowledge of IHR requirements, improving the use of risk assessment and notification mechanisms and reinforcing coordination across sectors, the training contributes to stronger preparedness at Yemen’s points of entry and to national health security.With support from the Pandemic Fund, WHO will continue to work with national authorities and partners to strengthen preparedness, surveillance and response capacities and reinforce Yemen’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats.Media contactsWHO Yemen CommunicationsEmail: [email protected] WHOFounded in 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations agency dedicated to promoting health, keeping the world safe and serving the vulnerable. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage, coordinate responses to health emergencies and advance well-being for all. Read more Explore and easily find stories using the following filters
Source: https://yemen.un.org/en/stories?page=1