What to know about WHO's newly launched courses on outbreaks, emergencies

The World Health Organization has launched a series of online courses for frontline responders to epidemics and emergencies. The video lectures contain essential information taken from hundreds of pages of WHO technical and scientific manuals. They are packaged in video format to be easily accessible and digestible for those seeking information on particular epidemics such as Ebola and the Middle East respiratory syndrome, as well as essential skills and knowledge in emergency response such as risk communication and community engagement. “The existing guidance is complex and not easy to understand for those who do not have special training in public health. Also, even if people on the frontline of emergency response can understand the science in our guidelines, it is difficult to find or carry heavy manuals in the field,” said Dr. Gaya Gamhewage, manager of the interventions and guidance team under WHO’s Health Emergencies Program. Like many of the reforms taking place at WHO, the idea for the initiative was borne out of the U.N. health aid agency’s experience during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. At the time, the aid agency had to train more than 100,000 individuals needed to scale up the response within a few weeks’ time. That experience led the agency to think about harnessing the potential of technology for such purpose, and out came OpenWHO, the platform they are now using to introduce these video lectures. The platform is accessible to anyone in the world for free, and offline versions are available for those who opt to download the videos on iOS and Android. All videos are available in English, and some of them have Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese and Spanish versions. The team behind the initiative is also working with partners to translate some of the courses to national and local languages and dialects, said Gamhewage. During the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, they translated WHO’s introductory course on Ebola to Lingala. The video courses are targeted mainly at international and national frontline responders, including decision-makers in emergency response and volunteers. Gamhewage said they could also be useful to policymakers and donors who’d like to get a better understanding of the hazards responders face in the field and which public health actions need to be prioritized during an outbreak or emergency. The modules can also serve as educational materials for students and more broadly for anyone who has an interest in learning about public health issues, and other public health professionals who may not necessarily work on the frontlines. For instance, said Gamhewage, they might be interested in the introductory course on the MERS-CoV, while responders and decision-makers could take an intermediate level course containing information on how to assess and confirm the presence of a virus in a laboratory, manage patients safely, and communicate the risks to the public. Certificates are given in some courses, such as for understanding WHO’s incident management system and e-PROTECT, an occupational health and safety course for those who may be deployed to countries with Ebola. Over time, the agency can work with academic institutions and partners to determine how the certification can be used, Gamhewage told Devex. “Within WHO, we will make some courses compulsory for our emergency program personnel.” Live courses will be offered later in the year. Some of the courses will be prerequisite for face-to-face trainings with WHO and therefore have time limits. But for the most part, individuals interested in the online materials can take on the courses during their own time and at their own pace. Each video will contain an expert’s contact details for anyone with further questions on the content. In live courses, a chat function will be available. Devex Professional Membership means access to the latest buzz, innovations, and lifestyle tips for development, health, sustainability and humanitarian professionals like you. Our mission is to do more good for more people. If you think the right information can make a difference, we invite you to join us by making a small investment in Professional Membership.