Join the "WHO Health Emergencies EPI-WIN Webinar: Strengthening the Governance of National Public Health Agencies for Emergency Preparedness and Response."
Date: 15 July 2026
Time: 13:00–14:00 CEST
Registration: https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1LrsQJMgRdO--7zhgNnt7g
Overview
Strong governance and institutional arrangements are essential for ensuring that National Public Health Agencies (NPHAs) can effectively prevent, detect, prepare for, and respond to public health emergencies. As countries continue to strengthen their emergency preparedness and response capacities, understanding how governance structures influence agency performance has become increasingly important.
This WHO Health Emergencies (WHE) EPI-WIN webinar will present new evidence from a cross-country study conducted by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research and the WHO Health Emergencies Programme. The study examines how governance and structural arrangements of NPHAs shape emergency preparedness and response across diverse country contexts.
The webinar will present the study's key findings alongside practical lessons and country experiences, providing insights for policymakers, public health leaders, and partners seeking to strengthen national public health institutions and enhance preparedness for future emergencies.
Objectives
The webinar aims to:
- Highlight the importance of governance mechanisms in National Public Health Agencies for strengthening emergency preparedness and response.
- Present findings from a cross-country study and discuss their implications for NPHA reform and institutional strengthening.
- Share practical lessons and country experiences that can support the development of effective governance arrangements and inform actionable strategies across different country contexts.
Target audience
This webinar is intended for policymakers, ministries of health, National Public Health Agencies, public health institutes, emergency preparedness and response professionals, development partners, academic institutions, and other stakeholders working to strengthen national public health systems and health emergency preparedness.
Agenda
Opening remarks: "NPHA Reform and Restructuring to Meet Current and Future Challenges"
Chikwe Ihekweazu
Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE)
Study findings: Cross-country study on the governance of National Public Health Agencies
Lorena Guerrero Torres
Technical Officer, WHO
NPHA Reform and Restructuring to Meet Current and Future Challenges
Chikwe Ihekweazu
Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE)
Cross-country study on the governance of National Public Health Agencies
Lorena Guerrero Torres
Technical Officer, WHO
Panel discussion: Country and partner perspectives
Moderator
Sara Hersey, Head, Strategic Partnerships and Planning, WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE)
Panelists
- Mahendra Arnold
Deputy Director General, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka - Neil Squires
Secretary General, International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) - Youngmee Jee
Former Commissioner, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency - Chioma Dan-Nwafor
Senior Technical Officer, Africa CDC
Implications for national and global actors and future learning
Sara Hersey and Kumanan Rasanathan