GHD, United Kingdom Health Security Agency host workshop in Amman

AMMAN — Global Health Development (GHD) and the International Health Regulations (IHR) Strengthening Project of the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are jointly holding a three-day workshop in Amman for 15 participants from Iraq and Pakistan on “Supporting and Developing Multisectoral Coordination in the Eastern Mediterranean Region” (EMR). 

The aim of this workshop funded by UK AID is to support country professionals from the Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Health and other relevant sectors to identify needs related to multisectoral coordination, exploring ways to strengthen it in both Iraq and Pakistan, according to a joint statement.

Global Health Development (GHD) is a regional initiative created to support countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and to strengthen their health systems to respond to public health challenges and threats. GHD was initiated to advance the work of the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) by building coordinating mechanisms with Ministries of Health, International Organisations and other institutions to improve population health outcomes. 

There have been significant advances in the understandingof global health security needs in the EMR through Joint External Evaluations (JEE) and National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS), alongside availability of tools, guidance, and technical support to countries in the region. However, the overall demonstrated compliance to IHR has been slower to materialise than anticipated.

“GHD|EMPHNET views its valued partnership with UKHSA as a journey to support public health efforts in the EMR rather than a standalone project. Our unique partnership fosters two-way, peer-to-peer support, whilst also building capabilities in the targeted countries and the two organisations, a partnership that continues to develop and evolve,” Mohannad Al Nsour, GHD|EMPHNET’s executive director, said.