Handbook for Public Health Emergency Operations Center Operations and Management
Public health emergencies arising from public health threats continue to be a major concern in Member States of the WHO African Region. Member States need to have functional public health Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) to fulfill the International Health Regulations (IHR) obligations. EOCs play critical roles in helping Member States prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.
A Public Health EOC (PHEOC) serves as a hub for coordinating the preparation for, response to, and recovery from public health emergencies. The preparation includes planning, such as risk and resource mapping, development of plans and procedures, and training and exercising. The response includes all activities related to investigation, response and recovery. The PHEOC also serves as a hub for coordinating resources and information to support response actions during a public health emergency and enhances communication and collaboration among relevant stakeholders.
