The Subregional Meeting of National Focal Points (NFP) for the International Health Regulations (IHR), hosted by the WHO Country Office in Poland and Poland’s NFP IHR, will bring together representatives from Baltic countries and Finland to strengthen operational understanding and regional collaboration in implementing the IHR (2005).
This gathering builds on the twinning initiative of the WHO Country Office and Poland’s NFP IHR, which began with visits from individual countries’ NFP IHRs to Poland and evolved into a broader subregional twinning framework to foster sustained peer-to-peer exchanges.
Over 2 days, participants will engage in technical discussions and practical exchanges aimed at deepening cooperation among neighbouring countries and enhancing the effectiveness of NFP functions.
The agenda will unfold through a series of structured sessions that combine presentations, discussions and experience-sharing. Participants will first explore the structure and roles of NFPs, examining how different countries organize their functions and manage day-to-day operations. Attention will then turn to the legal and institutional frameworks that underpin IHR implementation, including national mechanisms that support notification procedures and event-based surveillance.
Further sessions will focus on the establishment and functioning of National IHR Authorities, providing an opportunity to compare governance models and discuss how these entities coordinate with points of entry.
Building on lessons learned from Joint External Evaluations and Public Health Emergency Preparedness Assessments, countries will share best practices and insights to support peers currently preparing for these evaluations.
The meeting will conclude with a field visit to Warsaw Chopin International Airport, where participants will observe medical services and the operations of the Border Sanitary Station. This visit will offer a practical demonstration of how point-of-entry activities interface with NFP functions, translating policy and coordination frameworks into real-world practice.
Through this collaborative and hands-on approach, the meeting aims to strengthen cross-border collaboration, promote mutual learning and reinforce the collective capacity of countries in the region to implement the IHR effectively.