• The MediPIET Project also concluded the Training Center Forum meeting to prepare a proposal of a sustainable structure or foundation to support the implementation of MediPIET network

Tunis, 26/02/2020 The MediPIET project, Mediterranean and Black Sea field epidemiology training programme network aims to increase security in the EU neighbourhood completed its Training of Trainers (ToT) event in Tunis, Tunisia with representatives from ten countries from the Mediterranean and Black Sea countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) and various European institutions.

The 3-day workshop “Strengthening Country capacities on preparedness and responses for public health cross-border threats focusing on COVID-2019” was an opportunity for updating and refreshing participants’ knowledge regarding Risk management, Risk assessment and Risk communication with a special focus on the current outbreak of COVID-2019.

Sessions were provided by experts with a wealth of experience in risk management, rapid risk assessments and risk communication including Fernando Simón, Coordinating  Centre for Health Alerts and Emergencies, MoH, Spain; Alberto Torres, Murcia University, Spain; Jean-Claude Manuguerra, MediLAB Secure, Institut Pasteur (IP), France; Vicky Houssière and Eric Bertherat from World Health Organization (WHO) – Headquarters, Switzerland. The workshop attendants also benefited from the experience and knowledge of the scientific coordinators of MediPIET team, Adela Páez, Angeliki Lambrou, Iro Evlampidou and Concha Martín de Pando. The teaching was through interactive lectures and practical sessions.

Public Health officials, representatives of the Ministries of Health from Armenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Georgia Jordan, Libya, Moldova, Palestine, Serbia, Tunisia and Ukraine were provided updated information on Covid-19, discussed and compared the effectiveness of different preparedness and response plans and highlighted the need to set up the countries’ readiness and contingency plans. Participants were trained in increasing their ability to make decisions in public health situations that require immediate response, and have worked on the systematic use of available evidence to recommend to health authorities the most effective measures adapted to the countries’ situations and the level of risks in different scenarios.

Thanks to this course, representatives of the MediPIET countries continue their training, integrated in a context of cooperation between the EU and neighbouring countries, to improve security against cross-border threats, enhance the control of biological, chemical, radiological, nuclear or natural risks, and strengthen the defence of public health.