Horn of Africa regional disaster preparedness and response training of trainers held in Djibouti

This first-ever regional disaster preparedness and response Training of Trainers (ToT) was inaugurated by His Excellency Mohammod Ali, the Secretary General of Djibouti’s Ministry of Health. The five-day training, held from May 5 – May 9, 2024, in Arta Region, Djibouti, was a collaborative effort between the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), and Djibouti’s Ministry of Health.

The launch of the ToT saw a gathering of esteemed dignitaries, including Dr. Houssein Youssouf Darar, the Director General of the National Institute of Health, Elmi Bouh, President of the Regional Council of Arta, and Hassan Dabaleh, the Prefect of the Arta region. Other notable participants also included Dr. Bayleyegn Tesfaye from the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health, Dr. Schnall Amy from the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health, and Dr. Tatek Bogale, the AFENET Regional Technical Coordinator for the Horn of Africa.

With generous support from the US-CDC, 24 healthcare professionals from various Horn of Africa AFENET member countries, such as Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somaliland/Somalia, underwent training using the latest version of Disaster Epidemiology and Toxic Outbreak Investigation materials. The training aimed to equip experts from academia and ministries of health with the necessary skills for rapid needs assessments and surveillance crucial for responding to disasters and public health emergencies. The goal is to empower these individuals to disseminate their knowledge within their respective countries and become future trainers in the region.

During the ceremony, officials lauded the invaluable contributions of the US CDC and AFENET in bolstering the region’s health systems, particularly in enhancing the capacity of public health authorities to detect, investigate, and respond to disasters and toxic outbreaks. They expressed gratitude to the financial and technical partners while emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration between Djibouti’s Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Health, and various stakeholders in strengthening the country’s health system.

The regional disaster preparedness and response training of trainers represents a significant step forward in building resilience and ensuring a coordinated response to public health crises across the Horn of Africa. region.