Preparing a well-trained public heath workforce to manage health emergency risks and foster inter-country cooperation for enabling compliance to International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 at airports, seaports, and onboard conveyances in Sri Lanka & Maldives through a joint WHO-IOM competency-based training.
August 2024
A landmark training on International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) core capacities at airports, seaports, and onboard conveyances – airplane and ships, concluded in Sri Lanka on Friday, 2 August 2024. The training was aimed at strengthening the competencies of public health officials in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, focusing on IHR linked legal requirements and assessments to enhance core capacities at these two types of Points of Entry (PoEs) and conveyances. This is a first-of-its-kind joint initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), exemplifying collaboration between UN agencies through sharing of expertise and resources provided by a bilateral development partner to support countries to prepare a competent national health human resource.
The training, which was held from 29 July to 2 August 2024, was supported by the Ministry of Health, Government of Sri Lanka and generously funded by the Government of Japan.
Dr. S.M. Arnold, Deputy Director General (PHS I) of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, highlighted the training’s significance by stating - “The essence of this training is to ensure that personnel at our PoEs, our gateways to the world, are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to handle health emergencies effectively. Additionally, it seeks collaboration and information sharing among public health professionals, ensuring a more coordinated response to health threats.”
The Role of PoEs in Global Health Security
Points of entry play a crucial role in global health security as frontline defences against the spread of infectious diseases and other health threats. Effective management of these points is essential for safeguarding health of the community at both national and international scales. However, managing PoEs presents several challenges, including the need for strong cross-sectoral coordination among all stakeholders involved, adequate resources, trained PoE officials, advanced technological tools and adequate infrastructure, and the capacity to handle high volumes of travellers, conveyances and cargo efficiently. Competent personnel at PoEs are vital to respond to public health events and prevent cross-border spread of infections by implementing the core capacities of IHR (2005). Therefore, a sustainable public health system with highly qualified health and non-health personnel equipped with appropriate technical training and skills is of utmost importance.
Enhancing Knowledge and Skills
The joint WHO-IOM training aimed to strengthen the knowledge of border health officials on IHR (2005) core capacities, recent amendments to the IHR, and effective use of standard assessment tools at PoEs, with a special focus on conducting ship sanitation inspections. The training was attended by 29 public health officials, including eight from the Maldives and 21 from Sri Lanka. Four international expert trainers from a Port Health Authority of the United Kingdom and the three levels of WHO (Geneva, WHO South-East Asia Regional Office, Country Office - Timor Leste) and one observer also participated.
HE Mizukoshi Hideaki, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, emphasized Japan's commitment to supporting preparedness for future health emergencies. “As we move beyond the pandemic, Japan remains committed to supporting countries’ preparedness for future health emergencies. This training will provide valuable tools to strengthen Sri Lanka and Maldives’ public health management, improving their response to future challenges.”
Hands-On Experience
The training included both face-to-face and interactive practical sessions, allowing participants to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. The classroom component introduced participants to IHR (2005) requirements at PoEs at routine times and during public health emergencies and WHO assessment tools through presentations, exercises, and group activities. Participants then visited Bandaranaike International Airport for a simulated assessment as well as a simulated scenario on the management of public health events onboard an aircraft, and Colombo Port for a Ship Sanitation Certification inspection on board an international vessel and a simulated port health assessment. In preparation, participants were required to complete two online trainings on the WHO Ship Sanitation Inspection and Issuance of Ship Sanitation Certificate; and the WHO Public Health Event Management in Air Transport.
Perspectives of the organizing UN agencies and participants
Dr. Shalala Ahmadova, Public Health Administrator- OIC WHO Sri Lanka remarked that “This gathering signifies our collective commitment to strengthening health security and our dedication to ensuring the health and well-being of people and communities.” Similarly, Dr. Simeonette De Asis-Chief of Mission ai- IOM Sri Lanka and Maldives emphasized on the collaboration between the UN agencies “This training is a testament to the powerful collaboration, tying our efforts with the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health has been instrumental in bringing this program to a successful conclusion.”
Participants enthusiastically shared on how this training was beneficial for them:
“I was particularly impressed by how Sri Lankan port health officers meticulously inspect the food being loaded onto vessels. I’m eager to recommend this practice to my colleagues at the Health Protection Agency in the Maldives,” said Dr. Mohamed Ahzam, Public Health Officer at the Health Protection Agency in the Maldives.
Dr. Yasoma Weerasekara, Deputy Director of Port Health in Colombo, Sri Lanka, also found the training invaluable. “It’s just been few months into my new role working for the port health office. This training has been a great learning platform for me to improve my knowledge, especially on coordination and communication and the assessments of core capacities at the ports. However, having more regional examples reflecting best practices would have made it even better,” said Dr. Weerasekara.
Strengthening Core Capacities
A significant achievement of the training was the introduction to assessment tools aimed at strengthening core capacities at PoEs. The simulated public health capacity assessment at the airport and the simulated ship inspection and issuance of a ship sanitation certificate on board an international vessel at Colombo Port were particularly noteworthy. This training helps bolster health security capacities at PoEs, as highlighted in the WHO South-Esat Asia Regional strategic roadmap on health security and health system resilience for emergencies 2023-2027, by providing border health officials with a thorough understanding of IHR and essential core capacities and assessment tools. Such cross-country training reinforces collaboration among nations, enabling them to network effectively to manage and mitigate health risks, thereby safeguarding the well-being of everyone.
As the world continues to face emerging health threats, the role of border health officials and PoEs remains central to safeguarding global health security. Training officials stationed at PoEs to ensure compliance to IHR is crucial for this.