Regional workshop builds capacity for epidemic intelligence and public health risk assessment
A three-day training workshop on public health epidemic intelligence and rapid risk assessment (EI/RRA), organized by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) under the EU Initiative on Health Security, concluded today in Chișinău, Moldova. The event brought together over 40 public health professionals from Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, with additional facilitators from EU Member States, Eastern European and South Caucasus partner countries and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The workshop opened on 8 April with a welcome session that included a statement from the Moldovan Minister of Health, Dr. Ala Nemerenco, underlining the importance of regional cooperation and commitment to public health preparedness: “I am confident that these training days will provide not only a lot of technical skills but also opportunities for dialogue, reflection and cooperation among professionals from our different countries. I would like to express a special thanks to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the international facilitators present today for their efforts and dedication in supporting the professional development of colleagues in the region.”
ECDC extends its appreciation to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova for hosting the workshop and supporting regional cooperation in public health preparedness. This workshop represented a valuable step in deepening regional cooperation and strengthening regional resilience.
The early detection and rapid assessment of health-related threats is crucial in ensuring prompt actions to contain them. The workshop focused on strengthening participants’ abilities to detect, assess, and respond to emerging public health threats through hands-on training based on methodologies used at ECDC.
Over the course of the week, country representatives shared their national experiences and key lessons learned, and cross-border dialogue and peer-to-peer learning was encouraged. The event highlighted the value of collective preparedness as well as the critical roles of early detection and coordinated action in managing disease threats.
Background: The EU Initiative on Health Security
The EU Initiative on Health Security aims to enhance regional cooperation in EU candidate and potential candidate countries and European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries. to strengthen their capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to serious cross-border health security threats. Funded by the European Commission and implemented by ECDC, the initiative focuses on workforce development, regional collaboration, and alignment with EU standards in matter of health security.
