Summary report: IHR event communication exercise SAPHIRE 2023, South-East Asia Regional Practice of All-Hazard IHR Event Communication, 30 March 2023, New Delhi.

Übersicht

The International Health Regulations (2005) [IHR (2005)] lay the foundation for operational communications and coordination between State Parties and WHO in the detection, assessment and management of a public health event. The role of the IHR (2005) national focal points (IHR NFPs) in ensuring effective and timely IHR event communication is critical. The COVID-19 pandemic and other recent emergencies have reiterated the need to continue strengthening the roles and functions of NFPs. The South-East Asia Regional Practice of All Hazard IHR Event Communication (SAPHIRE) 2023 was a simulation exercise, designed to practice and test IHR event communication in the Region. SAPHIRE 2023 used a fictional scenario involving cases of infection with a Nipah-like virus; it was carried out on 30 March 2023. Approximately 95 participants from all 11 WHO South-East Asia Member States participated in SAPHIRE 2023. The exercise ran for 3.5 hours and involved a total of 19 injects, simulating events over an approximate period of 2.5 months. The report also summarizes recommended actions, based on feedbacks and observations, to further strengthen IHR event communications in the WHO South-East Asia Region.