Vaccine-preventable diseases outbreak simulation exercise
Dates and venue: 28 – 30 August 2024 - Yangon, Myanmar
Participants: Members of the Health Cluster (48 participants from 16 agencies).
Purpose: The general objective was to ensure preparedness for VPD outbreaks in the country and the specific objectives were to
1) ensure that an effective outbreak response plan is in place.
2) build capacity in the country to respond to measles and polio outbreaks by conducting regular simulation exercises.
3) ensure a high level of preparedness for VPD outbreak response in the country.
Details: The three-day simulation exercise captured the following key areas:
- Overview of Simulation Exercise and International Health Regulations (IHR)
- Standard operating procedure for response to poliovirus events or outbreaks.
- Standard operating procedure for outbreak preparedness and response to measles and rubella outbreak
- Readiness assessment for VPD outbreaks – followed by group work on readiness assessments expected from partners.
- Tabletop simulation (TT SimEx) exercise on measles and polio outbreaks
The TT SimEx was conducted using the modules developed by WHO SEARO and evaluated during the Regional Surveillance Review Workshop in March 2023 jointly with EPI Program Managers and Surveillance Officers of nine Member States.
All participants were divided into four groups, ensuring that participants from the same agency did not cluster. WHO Myanmar Country Office IVD Staff facilitated each group with support from lead facilitators from SEARO.
The TT SimEx was divided into four sessions: DETECTION, INVESTIGATION, RESPONSE, and RECOVERY. Following each session, groups provided their feedback in the plenary on the exercise and its linkage to the country context.
All participants were fully engaged and actively participated in the process. They requested more similar technical training from WHO to strengthen partners in the health cluster.
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Author: Sudhir Khanal, WHO Regional Officer for South-East Asia, and Sudhir Joshi, Regional Adviser- Accelerated Diseases Control, SEARO and Technical Officer Polio Endgame (
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Photo: Participants of the Simulation Exercise © WHO Myanmar