Workshop on Border Crossings Capacity Assessment International Health Regulations 2005
Podgorica, Montenegro, March 2nd to 3rd, 2015
Today’s highly mobile, interdependent and interconnected world provides a myriad of opportunities for the rapid spread of disease, including epidemic-prone and food-borne diseases, environmental disasters, toxic-chemical and radio-nuclear accidents.
It is critical that all countries have the capacity to detect, assess, and respond to public health events.
The legal framework through which all countries work together to protect from the spread of diseases and other health risks is the International Health Regulations 2005. In these regulations countries’ abilities to control diseases that cross borders are strengthened. An early warning system is established and countries are guided to detect, assess and respond to health threats and inform other countries quickly. All sectors are prepared for potential emergencies through coordination and information sharing.
The European Union also has regulation, Decision 1082/2013, for Preparedeness and Response Planning. To that effect, the EC funds courses, worksops and training to assist member states and countries preparing for accession to the EU.
Sandra Westacott, repesenting APHA attended and delivered training at a workshop in Montenegro on Border Crossongs Capcity Assessment according to the requirements of the IHR.
Montenegro is in the EU enlargement zone and requested the EU to assist in organising a workshop which included the aspects of border control capacity and assessment. Speakers from WHO Europe, National Focal Point, Poland and the European Centre for Disease control covered controls at seaports, airports and ground crossings.
Sandra’s contribution included the construction and use of a bespoke checklist for assessment of airports and seaports as designated points of entry.
It is hoped that Sandra will run a training day to cover the subjects discussed in the course.
Pogorica, Montenegro
Janusz Janiec, National Focal Point IHR Coordinator, Poland
Thomas Hofmann, Area Coordinator, IHR, WHO Europe, Janusz Janiec and Svetlana Tsolova, European Centre for Disease Control
Adriatic coast, Budva
www.euro.who.int/ihr
The WHO website which explains what the International Health Regulations, who is involved and how they work, and key IHR indicators to detect, assess and respond to public health events.