Context Across the WHO European Region, there is an ongoing need to strengthen the response to HIV, viral hepatitis B and C, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Many Member States still face challenges due to gaps in high-quality data and limited implementation of effective control and elimination measures. In its…
Context Repeated outbreaks in Africa, including mpox, Ebola and COVID-19, underscore the central role of public health and social measures (PHSM) in controlling epidemics and protecting fragile health systems. Even so, their effectiveness is difficult to assess, which can lead to inefficient measures and unintended consequences. PREPARE is a three-year…
Context Lassa fever (LF) remains a major public health burden in Nigeria and other West African countries. The virus is primarily transmitted from rodents to humans at the human-animal-environment (HAE) interface, underscoring the need for One Health (OH) approaches. Traditional risk management strategies have often been short-lived and ineffective, as…
Over the past three years, the COPE project has piloted a strategy that promotes community-driven approaches to reducing the burden of Lassa fever within a One Health research and action framework in South East Nigeria. An integral part of the COPE strategy is the systematic return of research findings to…
Context The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) have been collaborating closely on global health protection for over ten years, with a particular focus on addressing infectious diseases. The GHPP project NiCaDe II (2023-2025) focused on expanding national capacities…
The project “Nigeria Centre for Disease Control: Capacity Development for Preparedness and Response for Infectious Diseases” (NiCaDe) is a longstanding collaboration between the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) since 2019. During its second project phase, the RKI welcomed four…
Context In 2019, WHO designated the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) as the first WHO Collaborating Centre for the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). Over the past five years, the centre has played a key role in shaping GOARN’s strategy, strengthening capacity building, and supporting international…
Context Since 2020, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) collaborates with Namibia’s Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) to establish the Namibia Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and to strengthen different Public Health (PH) functions. The NIPH was approved by the Namibian Cabinet in March 2024. National Public Health Institutes…
Context There is an urgent need to strengthen diagnostic capacities for Yersinia pestis and Vibrio cholerae in Madagascar. Yersinia pestis is endemic in the country and therefore represents a major public health concern. Vibrio cholerae is gaining increasing importance both locally and globally in the context of climate change and…