Draft:Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC)
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The Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC)[1] is a country-led, World Health Organization (WHO)-coordinated initiative that aims to strengthen national capacities for preparedness and response to health emergencies. Established under the framework of WHO’s Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPR) approach, GHEC provides structured support to enhance the coordination and effectiveness of national health emergency workforces globally.
Background
GHEC was developed to address challenges identified during global health emergencies, notably during pandemics such as COVID-19, cholera outbreaks, and other infectious disease crises. The concept draws inspiration from a growing body of thought around the need for more structured global emergency coordination. Bill Gates notably advocated for the creation of a "Global Epidemic Response and Mobilization" (GERM) team in his public communications and writings, arguing for a standing global force to respond to outbreaks.[2] Similarly, in his book Spike: The Virus vs The People – the Inside Story, former Wellcome Trust director Jeremy Farrar emphasised the lack of timely coordination and global readiness during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling for more robust, connected, and trusted emergency leadership structures[3]. These and other perspectives have influenced the global consensus behind initiatives like GHEC, aimed at providing a more predictable, country-led, and better coordinated emergency response architecture. Recognizing the need for a coordinated, swift, and effective global response, WHO initiated the GHEC to support national and regional preparedness and response strategies.
Objectives
The core objectives of GHEC include:
- Strengthening national emergency workforce structures.
- Developing interoperable surge capacities that countries can deploy during emergencies.
- Connecting national health leaders through established networks for effective information sharing and coordinated actions.
Structure and Model
GHEC utilizes a pyramid model to structure national health emergency workforces:
- Base Level: National responders who form the foundational workforce.
- Intermediate Level: Deployable surge teams ready to support in-country or regional emergencies.
- Top Level: Senior technical leaders and strategic coordinators connected across borders for international collaboration.
Key Activities
GHEC facilitates a range of activities to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities. It leverages established operational delivery arms such as the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), the Emergency Medical Teams Network (EMT-net), and the Public Health Emergency Operations Centres Network (EOC-NET) to support implementation and coordination at all levels:
- Exercises: Simulation exercises, such as "Exercise Polaris," to enhance preparedness and identify gaps in emergency responses.[4] [5]
- Operational Coordination: Supporting the alignment of national and international actions during health emergencies.
- Peer-to-Peer Collaboration: Fostering knowledge exchange and peer learning through structured networks.
Principles
The guiding principles of GHEC are sovereignty, equity, and solidarity, ensuring that national capacities are respected and enhanced through international cooperation.
Implementation and Regional Adaptations
GHEC's framework is adaptable to diverse regional and national contexts, allowing tailored implementation according to specific regional challenges and capacities. Notably, regional adaptations like those under the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APHSAF) exemplify how GHEC's model is operationalized in various settings.
Sustainability and Future Directions
To ensure long-term sustainability, GHEC is exploring the establishment of enduring structures and networks, potentially including a non-profit entity to manage and sustain platform resources and capacities beyond individual emergencies.
References
[edit]- ^ "Global Health Emergency Corps". World Health Organization.
- ^ Gates, Bill (2022). How to Prevent the Next Pandemic. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-1-802-06052-2.
- ^ Farrar, Jeremy; Ahuja, Anjana (2021). Spike: The Virus vs The People – the Inside Story. Profile Books. ISBN 978-1788169226.
- ^ "WHO brings countries together to test collective pandemic response". World Health Organization.
- ^ Simmon, Laura. "Exercise Polaris: The WHO Just Ran A 2-Day Pandemic Preparedness Exercise".
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