On 16 August 2024 the Indonesian Ministry of Health (MoH) and World Health Organization (WHO) concluded a series of trainings aimed at strengthening outbreak rapid detection and response capacities in priority provinces. A total of 120 members from 24 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) participated in the trainings, which focused on emerging and epidemic-prone diseases.
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are diseases that appear in a population for the first time, or that may have existed previously but are increasing in incidence or geographic range. Epidemic-prone diseases are diseases that can spread rapidly in specific locations. Indonesia’s Early Warning Alert and Response System collects information on 24 epidemic-prone diseases, including malaria, dengue fever, typhoid and measles.
Across Indonesia, a total of 514 RRTs are present in 514 districts. Each RRT is responsible for early detection, signal verification, field epidemiology investigation, rapid risk assessment and comprehensive outbreak response. Each RRT comprises a range of experts, including clinicians, epidemiologists, surveillance officers, laboratory technicians, point of entry officers, risk communication officers and veterinarians, among others.
Trainees engage in a scenario-based simulation (WHO/Endang Wulandari)
Trainings began on 12
July for RRTs in DKI Jakarta and Banten provinces, on 19 July for RRTs in East
Java and Bali provinces, and on 8 August for RRTs in the rest of Banten, West
Java and Central Java provinces.
“RRTs are the backbone of Indonesia’s health security and resilience. They have been critical to national and subnational efforts to detect and respond to EIDs, such as COVID-19 and mpox, as well as epidemic-prone diseases, such as dengue fever and measles,” said dr. Achmad Farchanny Tri Adryanto, Director, Surveillance and Health Quarantine, MoH, Government of Indonesia. “Through these trainings, RRTs in priority provinces will be better equipped to navigate both present and future challenges, for a more resilient, health-secure Indonesia for all.”
Curricula for the trainings was adapted by MoH and WHO from the WHO global RRT Training Programme. The global programme provides Member States resources and tools to plan, implement and evaluate customized training for RRT managers and members, based on the RRT Competency Framework.
Key lessons at the trainings addressed emerging infectious diseases preparedness; early detection and response to outbreak prone diseases at all levels and points of entry; EID case management and infection prevention and control; risk communication; sample collection and shipment; and deployment of RRTs. Each training culminated in practical exercises on early detection, field investigation, sample collection, patient referral and case management, donning and doffing of personal protective equipment, and reporting.
(WHO/Endang Wulandari)
"Our goal is to support Indonesia to strengthen its health security, which in turn contributes to improving overall quality of life,” said Dr. Enilda Martin, Health Office Director, USAID Indonesia. “Through our Global Health Security programme, in collaboration with WHO, we partner with the Government of Indonesia to deliver technical assistance at both national and subnational levels. This includes a series of RRT trainings designed to enhance the country’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks and future pandemics,” added Dr. Martin.
The trainings reflect Indonesia’s commitment to enhance International Health Regulations core capacities and fully implement the WHO global Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPR) framework. The trainings will support Indonesia to continue to lead implementation of the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework and achieve its overall health transformation agenda.
This activity was supported by the US Government through USAID.
Written by Endang Widuri Wulandari, National Professional Officer (Epidemiologist), WHO Indonesia