Luanda, 28 July 2025 – In response to Angola’s ongoing cholera outbreak, a two-week training programme has brought together national and international expertise to strengthen the country’s capacity in laboratory diagnostics and epidemiological surveillance. The initiative was led by the German Epidemic Preparedness Team (SEEG) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health.

The training, hosted by the Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS) with support from the Directorate of Public Health for the surveillance component, combined intensive laboratory and surveillance sessions. Experts from SEEG institutions, including the Robert Koch Institute, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, and Institut Pasteur as well as from WHO, worked side-by-side with Angolan professionals to enhance diagnostic capabilities for cholera and improve integration of laboratory data into national health information systems.

Over 40 professionals were trained, including more than 20 from INIS and 2 laboratory technicians from Cuanza Sul, who participated in hands-on laboratory sessions focused on cholera diagnostics using culture and molecular biology methods, antimicrobial resistance testing, biosafety, quality control, and cryoconservation of cholera strains during the first week. This was followed in the second week by training for 24 professionals from DNSP-Luanda on surveillance techniques such as DHIS2 dashboard use, community-based surveillance, and GIS mapping.

This Training of Trainers (ToT) approach ensures that participants are now equipped to cascade their knowledge across Angola. As a direct outcome, WHO, with support from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations and the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, will facilitate follow-up training, bringing laboratory staff from multiple provinces to INIS. This next phase will significantly decentralize diagnostic capacity and strengthen national surveillance systems.

The success of this initiative highlights the value of multisectoral collaboration. SEEG’s medium-term technical support complements WHO’s ongoing emergency response efforts, aligning with Angola’s national priorities for epidemic preparedness and resilient health systems.