Community Epidemic Preparedness
When communities are engaged and trained in epidemic preparedness and response, they become vital contributors to finding and stopping outbreaks, saving lives, restoring services, reducing negative impacts, speeding recovery and building resilience.
WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is working with Member States to help countries to prepare for large-scale outbreaks and pandemics.
Through the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies (APSED III), core capacities required by the International Health Regulations (2005), or IHR, are being advanced, providing an important foundation for pandemic preparedness. This is complemented by efforts to strengthen disease-specific systems and capacities, including for vaccines, pharmaceuticals and other public health interventions. Countries are also encouraged to engage the whole of society for effective pandemic preparedness and response.
