ECDC Preparedness WorkHow ECDC is supporting Commission and the Member States

Prof. Karl EkdahlHead of Public Health Capacity and Communication Unit, ECDC

Emergency preparedness is a programme of long-term

activities whose goals are to strengthen the overall capacity

and capability of a country or a community to manage

efficiently all types of emergencies and bring about an orderly

transition from relief through recovery, and back to sustained

development. It requires that emergency plans be developed,

personnel at all levels and in all sectors be trained, and

communities at risk be educated, and that these measures be

monitored and evaluated regularly.

UN Strategy for Disaster Reduction

Public Health Emergency Preparedness

Preparedness lessons from the H1N1 pandemic

• Develop core capacities as per IHR

• Flexible planning assumptions

• Improve sharing of best practices

• Ensure cross-sectoral response

• Strengthen the multi-sectoral approach

• Transparency and governance

• Consider legislative changes that may be needed

• Business continuity planning guidance for different sectors

lessons from 2009 H1N1- Council recommendations

Decision 1082/2013/EU

Article 4

Member States and the Commission shall consult each other (…) with a view to coordinating their efforts to develop, strengthen and maintain their capacities for the monitoring, early warning and assessment of, and response to, serious cross-border threats to health.

That consultation shall be aimed at:

(a) sharing best practice and experience in preparedness and response planning;

(b) promoting the interoperability of national preparedness planning;

(c) addressing the intersectoral dimension of preparedness and response planning at Union level; and

(d) supporting the implementation of core capacity (…) of the IHR.

IHR Core Capacities Component of core capacity

1: National legislation, policy and financing

National legislation and policy

Financing

2: Coordination and NFP communications

IHR coordination, communication and advocacy

3: Surveillance Indicator based surveillance

Event based surveillance

4: Response Rapid response capacity

Case management

Infection control

Disinfection, decontamination and vector control

5: Preparedness Public health emergency preparedness and response

Risk and resource management for IHR preparedness

6: Risk communication Policy and procedures for public communications

7: Human resources Human resource capacity

8: Laboratory Policy and coordination of laboratory services

Laboratory diagnostic and confirmation capacity

Specimen collection and transport

Generic vs. Specific Preparedness

80%

15%

5%

Response elements in emergencies

Generic

Hazard-specific

Event specific

WHO e-atlas of disaster risk for the European Region

All-hazard approach:

1. common elements in responses

2. standardized management

3. greater capacity to address events.

Cycle of preparedness activities

1. Identify risks

2. Prioritise top risks

3. Understand prioritised risks

in detail

4. Identify preparedness

options

5. Design preparedness

strategies

6. Implement preparedness

strategies

7. Monitor progress

and update strategy

Adapted from Kunreuther, Michel-Kerjan and Useem, 2013, Corporate Strategies for Managing Catastrophic Risks in the S&P 500: Linking Intuitive and Deliverative Thinking. The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Public Health Emergency Preparedness infrastructure

Workforce capacity &

competency

Capacitybuilding

Risk/CrisisCommunication

Legislation &policies

Scientific research & advice

Information platforms & data systems

Epidemic Intelligence & investigationSurveillance

Laboratorypractice

Organisational & system capacity

Public Health Response

Basic Infrastructure

Essentialcapacities

Core supportfunctions

Public Health Emergency Preparedness infrastructureHow does ECDC work with countries?

Workforce capacity &

competency

Capacitybuilding

Risk/CrisisCommunication

Legislation &policies

Scientific research & advice

Information platforms & data systems

Epidemic Intelligence & investigationSurveillance

Laboratorypractice

Organisational & system capacity

Public Health Response

Basic Infrastructure

Essentialcapacities

Core supportfunctions

SurveillanceEarly warningPreparedness

• EU Surveillance• Support to Risk

Management• Outbreak

Communication

• Epidemic Intelligence • Risk Monitoring• Rapid Alert• Risk Assessment• Public Communication

•National risk assessments > preparedness priorities•Preparedness plans •Inter-operability of plans•Intersectoral collaboration•Training & Exercising•Crisis management procedures•Continuity of operations plans

Outbreak Response Assistance

RecoveryResponsePreparedness

Recovery

ECDC contribution to health security(Classical PPRR model)

• Guidance on rehabilitation/ decontamination

• Crisis Mgt and Response Evaluation

• Lessons identified > case studies

• Update detection/response protocols

• Outbreak investigation• Mobilisation of networks• Deployment of OAT

Prevention

•Scientific research and guidance•Health determinants•Prevention guidance (AMR, VPD)•Risk communication

Prevention

ECDC Emergency Preparedness actions and objectives 2014-2020

Health Emergency

Preparedness

1. Identification of good practice

2. Dissemination of good practice

3. Capacity strengthening

Literature review

Case studies

Development of tools

Good practice workshops

Training

Specific capabilities

• Support countries in improving their capacities and plan activities for public health emergency preparedness;

• Foster interoperability in planning for cross-border health threats;

• Promote capabilities and cooperation with other sectors involved in preventing and preparing for cross-border health threats;

• Ensure support for cross-border health threats among EU, enlargement and ENP countries in the Mediterranean basin.

Specific Case of Ebola

Preparedness

simultaneous with

Response

ECDC activities to support Ebola preparedness

• Analyse EWRS surveys on MS preparedness

• Support national exercises

• Country visits

• Share technical resources through dedicated extranets

• Support to clinical network

• Training

• Tutorial on proper use of PPE

• Courses on planning for pre-hospital management of suspected VHF patients

Planning and Preparedness

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

- Benjamin Franklin

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

- Abraham Lincoln

“Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential.”

- Winston Churchill

“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”

- Mike Tyson

Thank you for your attention !