Ethiopia Hosts Multidisciplinary Outbreak Response Workshop, Strengthening Regional Collaboration

In Addis Ababa, a four‑day workshop organized by the Robert Koch Institute and supported by the World Health Organization brought together about 30 experts from Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean Region and Europe. The event, part of the Emergency Medical Teams initiative, aimed to reinforce multidisciplinary collaboration for outbreak response. Participants exchanged lessons from past disease outbreaks, emphasizing the need for coordination across clinical, environmental, social and One Health disciplines. Hands‑on sessions at the Regional EMT Training and Knowledge Hub included water‑filtration and quality‑testing exercises, illustrating the role of environmental health in outbreak settings. The workshop also explored anthropology and community‑based perspectives, underscoring how cultural and animal‑human interactions shape transmission dynamics. Discussions identified barriers and practical actions to deepen partnerships and information sharing across regions and sectors. Senait Tekeste, WHO Ethiopia Acting Team Lead for Emergency Preparedness and Response, said the event built trust and expanded professional networks. The strengthened networks are expected to enable more coordinated, effective, and resilient responses to future infectious‑disease outbreaks.