The World Health Organization (WHO) has hailed Ethiopia's recent inauguration of the Public Health Emergency Management Center of Excellence (PHEM-CoE) as a significant stride in both regional and international health leadership.
Patrick Okumu Abok, the WHO Team Leader for Emergency Preparedness and Response Cluster in Ethiopia, emphasized that this initiative underscores Ethiopia's increasing prominence as a hub for expertise in managing public health emergencies across Africa.
"The establishment of this center is a landmark achievement not just for Ethiopia, but for the entire continent," stated Abok. "It showcases Ethiopia's commitment and capability to spearhead public health emergency responses at national, regional, and global levels."
The launch event saw the participation of representatives from various international and regional bodies, including the WHO. The PHEM-CoE is designed to bolster health security nationally, regionally, and globally by building upon a strong legal and policy framework, strategic planning, advanced information systems, and cutting-edge technologies.
Abok highlighted Ethiopia's established success in handling infectious disease outbreaks like cholera and measles, as well as its provision of support to neighboring nations and even distant countries like Turkey through the deployment of Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs).
"Ethiopia has consistently set the standard in emergency preparedness and response within Africa," Abok noted, adding that the WHO has confidence in Ethiopia's governance and leadership and values its partnership in achieving global standards of excellence.
He further commended Ethiopia's strong dedication to regional health strategies and its proactive engagement in cross-border collaboration aimed at enhancing preparedness and disease prevention efforts.
According to Abok, the WHO has actively supported Ethiopia's endeavor by providing technical assistance, strategic direction, training, and capacity building. This includes embedding technical experts who work closely with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and will continue to do so for the next three years.
Operating from 2025 to 2027, the newly launched PHEM-CoE will focus on crucial areas required for a center of excellence, including leadership and governance, innovation, digital transformation, and ensuring sustainable funding, ENA reported.