U.S. Boosts Regional Epidemic Preparedness With Advanced Training

By Angel Ike

The Acting Program Director of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Global Health Protection, Asmau Aminu-Alhaji, has praised the dedication of public health emergency operations center staff for their vital work both within their countries and across the West African region.

He made these remarks during the closing of a two-week Intermediate Level Training on Regional Public Health Emergency Management held in Abuja.

The training was hosted by the U.S. CDC in partnership with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Seventeen public health emergency operations center staff members from Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Liberia, and Mali graduated as the first cohort of this program.

The participants enhanced their skills in operating incident management systems critical for outbreak preparedness and response.

Aminu-Alhaji emphasised the importance of cross-border collaboration and communication in public health, expressing optimism that this training has significantly strengthened the region’s capacity to prepare for and respond to epidemics and pandemics.

The Public Health Emergency Management Professional Certification Program is a key component of the U.S. Government’s commitment to global health security in Nigeria and beyond.

It equips emergency operations staff and other public health professionals with specialised training in emergency management