The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), with funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), recently concluded Training of Trainers (TOT) to advance Ethiopia’s Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) through digital innovation.
The first session, held from February 10–16, 2025, brought together 55 participants, while the second session, from February 17–21, 2025, focused on 17 IT administrators and data managers to support system customization, administration and implementation at all levels.
The training empowered participants with practical skills in utilizing the new electronic Public Health Emergency Management (ePHEM) system, a digital platform aimed at enhancing preparedness, rapid detection, and timely and coordinated response to public health emergencies.
Participants received hands-on training in various modules critical to effective emergency management, including:
Event-Based Surveillance: Improving early detection and response through effective signal management from diverse sources.One Health Collaboration: Strengthening integrated surveillance and rapid information exchange between human, animal, and environmental health sectors.Incident Management: Implementing structured response measures, defining clear roles, and facilitating real-time resource tracking and reporting.Workforce Management: Streamlining emergency workforce deployment, profiling, and team coordination.Partner Coordination: Enhancing transparency and collaboration by tracking partner activities, preventing duplication, and maximizing resource utilization.Advanced Data Analytics and Visualization: Utilizing interactive dashboards, GIS mapping, and predictive analytics for informed decision-making and rapid response.System Integration and Interoperability: Ensuring seamless integration with Ethiopia’s existing health systems, including DHIS2, EIOS, HMIS, and Points of Entry (POE), providing versatile data exchange options and deployment flexibility.
Additionally, 17 participants received specialized IT training on software administration and customization of the ePHEM system.
This training is a key step in the digitalization of public health emergency management, improving real-time data collection, analysis, and response. By integrating ePHEM with DHIS2, Ethiopia is transforming its public health emergency management system and enhancing data-driven decision-making, ensuring a more efficient and timely response to health threats.
