UN and partners join a simulation exercise in Ghana to test new ways to respond to outbreaks

To prepare for future outbreaks, a simulation exercise was held in Accra, Ghana. The exercise tested innovative solutions to rapidly respond to infectious disease outbreaks, especially in remote or resource-limited areas.

WHO participating in setting up the Infectious Diseases Treatment Module and the Health Emergency Facility in Accra, Ghana, during the simulation exercise
© UNICEF/Ghana/2024/Kotei

The World Health Organization (WHO), together with the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and other national and international health partners, participated in the 5-day full-scale infectious outbreak simulation from 11-15 November 2024. Nearly 50 partners and ministries of health from Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, and other African countries, as well as representatives from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, participated in the exercise.

Participants setting up the treatment centre
© UNICEF/Ghana/2024/Kotei

Two breakthrough innovations were at the heart of the exercise: the Infectious Disease Treatment Module and the Health Emergency Facility. These cutting-edge treatment centres are designed to be quickly deployed and operational, ensuring swift and effective responses to outbreaks. The exercise aimed to strengthen Africa's preparedness and response capabilities while showcasing the power of these new tools.

The Infectious Diseases Treatment Module and the Health Emergency Facility
© UNICEF/Ghana/2024/Kotei

These treatment modules were developed independently within the INITIATE² and Health Emergency Facility initiatives in close collaboration with WHO-Téchne, a network of academic and technical institutions supporting WHO and Member States in improving health care and infrastructure, and associated health communities, to provide rapid-response capabilities for treatment of infectious diseases.

The simulation exercise was based on an Ebola outbreak scenario, where participants engaged in logistics and water, sanitation and hygiene operations, providing patients with the best possible medical care while also treating them with kindness and compassion. Participants set up and operated the two treatment modules testing their functionality, integration, adaptability and resilience.

A mock Ebola patient in the Infectious Diseases Treatment Module
© UNICEF/Ghana/2024/Kotei

The Infectious Diseases Treatment Module enabled the setup of a 4-beds, fully functional treatment centre in less than 24 hours, providing the highest standards of humanized care from the very outset of the simulated outbreak. Additionally, the module is reusable after decommissioning, promoting a more environmentally sustainable response.

The Health Emergency Facility, a family-friendly and rapidly deployable facility developed by UNICEF, WHO, MSF and the WHO-Téchne, was also set up alongside the treatment module. It enabled the participants to expand the treatment capacity up to 14 beds within two days and provided essential services like medical and logistics offices, a warehouse, laundry, psychosocial support office, morgue and laboratory.

A solar energy system, coupled with batteries, powered the entire treatment centre. This innovative solution, developed by WHO and UNICEF, reduced reliance on polluting diesel generators. It promoted sustainability and climate resilience, making emergency health care more effective and environmentally friendly. This is a step towards a future where emergency health care is not only effective but also sustainable, resilient to climate change and mindful of the environment.

Deployable solar energy system coupled with batteries being setup to power the Infectious Diseases Treatment Module and the Health Emergency Facility
© UNICEF/Ghana/2024/Kotei

The simulation exercise also fostered collaboration among nearly 50 institutions. By collaborating, these organizations showed how using the same methods and working towards the same goals can improve responses to health emergencies.

Participants who participated during the simulation exercise
© UNICEF/Ghana/2024/Kotei

The simulation exercise was conducted under INITIATE², a 5-year initiative launched in June 2021 by WFP and WHO. This platform brings together emergency response actors and experts from research and academic institutions to develop innovative solutions and to strengthen partners' collaboration for better readiness and responses to health emergencies.

Building on the success of this simulation, the INITIATE² community will focus on:

• improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and electrification components within treatment centres;
• developing common kits of supplies for essential items and infrastructure;
• producing common training materials to strengthen joint preparedness and response to infectious diseases outbreaks; and
• facilitate joint strategic prepositioning of IDTM and HEF infrastructures.

The INITIATE² community will continue to improve emergency response, building on this progress. By testing new technologies and working together, this exercise helps Africa get ready for future outbreaks, better preparing to save lives and protect communities.

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