TEHRAN - The World Health Organization (WHO) in Iran has implemented a community-based surveillance (CBS) training program to systematically detect and report public health events and promote public health resilience.

The World Health Organization’s office in collaboration with the Iranian Centre for Communicable Disease Control, the Health Promotion Department, and the Health Managers Development Institute of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education conducted the training of trainers (ToT) to improve both Iranian and refugees’ health.

The training was held on  September 14. A total of 25 dedicated public health officers from the provinces of Sistan–Baluchestan, Hormozgan, Khorasan, Mazandaran, Gilan, Bushehr, and Kerman participated in the event, World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (WHO EMRO) website announced in a press release on September 19.

The initiative, co-funded by the European Union, aims to build the capacities of health facilities, including outreach services, to better prepare and respond to public health emergencies and mitigate multi-hazards among refugee populations in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

By leveraging local networks, CBS aims to detect, respond to, and prevent public health threats.

During the training, participants learned about the importance of integrating CBS into existing surveillance systems, establishing well-defined reporting mechanisms, and implementing effective feedback channels.

The training highlighted how local engagement can lead to more timely and effective public health interventions. By empowering local communities and strengthening surveillance systems, WHO and its partners are taking proactive steps to promote public health resilience in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of community engagement and capacity-building in safeguarding the health of populations.

Equipped with new knowledge and skills, the public health officers who participated in the ToT will train 1800 community health workers in their respective regions.

This cascade of training will result in the health system being better prepared to detect public health events early and assess the impact of interventions promptly.

By building on the existing capacities of frontline workers and creating a robust and responsive health surveillance system the initiative aims to improve the health and well-being of the Iranian and Afghan refugee populations.

Recent services

In August, the WHO facilitated the procurement of 2.79 million Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVMs) for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s oral polio vaccine program.

This strategic move that was funded by the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute marks a substantial leap forward in strengthening the country’s national immunization efforts.

The shipment of VVMs, temperature-sensitive devices crucial for vaccine storage and transportation, arrived through Imam Khomeini International Airport.

The consignment was received jointly by the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute and the WHO Country Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran. These VVMs were procured from a reputable international supplier.

Ali Es’haghi, Director General of the Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute affiliated with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, indicated that the collaborative achievement was the result of concerted efforts across multiple levels.

He mentioned that the Razi Serum Vaccine Research Institute, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA), the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, the WHO Country Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran, WHO Headquarters, and the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) worked tirelessly for nearly two years to navigate a complex procurement process.

Since the successful installation of the state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, funded by Japan, many patients in Hajar Hospital in the city of Shahrekord have benefited from life-saving early diagnosis for various diseases.

Thanks to the MRI machine, cancer has been detected early enough in dozens of patients to allow them to receive less aggressive treatment – ultimately saving their lives, World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (WHO EMRO) website announced in a press release on June 23.

The MRI is used for various diagnostic purposes, including detecting severe cases of new coronavirus infection, early detection of cancer, bleeding from heart attacks and strokes, identifying disabilities caused by accidents and other causes, and monitoring disease progression”, the website quoted Tamaki Tsukada, Ambassador of Japan to the Islamic Republic of Iran, as saying.

It is one of 6 state-of-the-art MRI machines generously funded by the Government of Japan and strategically placed in key referral hospitals identified by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

Representatives of WHO and the Embassy of Japan in the Islamic Republic of Iran visited Hajar Hospital on June 13 to witness the impact the MRI machine has had since its donation in October 2023.

MT/MG