International Health Regulations (IHR) Training Course

International Health Regulations (IHR) Training Course

Introduction

The International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) training course is a globally aligned capacity-building program designed to strengthen global health security, pandemic preparedness, disease surveillance, and emergency response systems. International Health Regulations (IHR) Training Course equips public health professionals, border control officials, laboratory experts, and policy makers with the competencies required to detect, assess, report, and respond to public health emergencies of international concern (PHEIC). With rising threats from emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and climate-sensitive outbreaks, this course builds critical skills in risk communication, epidemiological intelligence, and cross-border health coordination.

This program is anchored in WHO’s global health governance framework, focusing on real-time surveillance systems, One Health approach, biosecurity compliance, and health systems resilience. Participants gain practical knowledge on implementing IHR core capacities, strengthening event-based surveillance (EBS), indicator-based surveillance (IBS), and emergency operations center (EOC) coordination. The training emphasizes compliance, rapid reporting mechanisms, and intersectoral collaboration to ensure countries meet international obligations while protecting population health and minimizing global disease spread.

Course Duration

5 days

Course Objectives

1. Strengthen Global Health Security (GHS) compliance under IHR 2005 
2. Build capacity in pandemic preparedness and response systems
3. Enhance real-time disease surveillance and outbreak detection
4. Improve risk assessment and public health emergency reporting
5. Develop skills in event-based surveillance (EBS) and data analytics
6. Strengthen One Health integration across human-animal-environment sectors
7. Promote cross-border health coordination and travel health regulations
8. Enhance laboratory biosafety and biosecurity standards
9. Strengthen Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activation and coordination
10. Improve risk communication and community engagement strategies
11. Ensure compliance with WHO International Health Regulations monitoring tools
12. Build capacity in outbreak investigation and field epidemiology response
13. Strengthen health systems resilience and climate-health emergency preparedness

Target Audience

1. Public health officers and epidemiologists 
2. Port health and border control officials 
3. Laboratory scientists and microbiologists 
4. Emergency response and disaster management teams 
5. Ministry of Health policy makers and planners 
6. Infection prevention and control (IPC) specialists 
7. WHO and NGO health program coordinators 
8. Veterinary and environmental health professionals (One Health sector) 

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to International Health Regulations (IHR 2005)

• Legal framework and global obligations 
• Core capacities and reporting requirements 
• WHO notification systems 
• National focal point responsibilities 
• Public health emergency classification 
• Case Study: Ebola Virus Disease outbreak reporting failures and improvements in West Africa (2014–2016)

Module 2: Global Health Security & Surveillance Systems

• Indicator-based surveillance (IBS) 
• Event-based surveillance (EBS) 
• Digital disease detection tools 
• Early warning systems 
• Data integration platforms 
• Case Study: COVID-19 early detection gaps and global surveillance breakdown

Module 3: Outbreak Investigation & Field Epidemiology

• Case definitions and line listing 
• Contact tracing systems 
• Epidemic curve analysis 
• Sample collection protocols 
• Field reporting structures 
• Case Study: Cholera outbreak investigation in Haiti

Module 4: Risk Assessment & Emergency Reporting

• Risk scoring frameworks 
• Rapid assessment tools 
• Decision-making algorithms 
• Reporting timelines under IHR 
• Situation analysis dashboards 
• Case Study: MERS-CoV reporting delays and regional spread

Module 5: Laboratory Systems, Biosafety & Biosecurity

• Laboratory confirmation protocols 
• Specimen transport systems 
• Biosafety levels (BSL 1–4) 
• Quality assurance systems 
• Laboratory networking 
• Case Study: Anthrax laboratory containment failure incidents

Module 6: Emergency Operations & Incident Management Systems

• EOC structure and activation 
• Incident command system (ICS) 
• Resource coordination 
• Surge capacity planning 
• Multi-agency response coordination 
• Case Study: COVID-19 national Emergency Operations Centers activation strategies

Module 7: Risk Communication & Community Engagement

• Infodemic management 
• Crisis communication strategies 
• Media engagement protocols 
• Community trust building 
• Behavioral change communication 
• Case Study: Vaccine hesitancy communication during COVID-19 rollout

Module 8: One Health & Cross-Border Health Security

• Human-animal-environment interface 
• Zoonotic disease control 
• Border health surveillance 
• Travel health regulations 
• Climate-sensitive disease preparedness 
• Case Study: Avian influenza cross-border spread control in Asia

Training Methodology

This course employs a participatory and hands-on approach to ensure practical learning, including:

• Interactive lectures and presentations.
• Group discussions and brainstorming sessions.
• Hands-on exercises using real-world datasets.
• Role-playing and scenario-based simulations.
• Analysis of case studies to bridge theory and practice.
• Peer-to-peer learning and networking.
• Expert-led Q&A sessions.
• Continuous feedback and personalized guidance.

 Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: info@datastatresearch.org or call +254724527104 

 Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

 We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to DATASTAT CONSULTANCY LTD account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.