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The SHOC is a dedicated space in the Regional Office in which a team can work to deal with large-scale emergencies presenting a public health threat. As soon as a crisis happens, the SHOC is immediately activated. This was what happened on 24 April when the Pandemic (H1N1) outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), in compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). The SHOC is the nucleus where response and support to country offices and Member States is being coordinated. Professionals from various fields (epidemiology, communicable diseases, emergency preparedness and response, telecommunications, media and communication) are teamed to provide their respective expertise. They are constantly connected to the WHO headquarters command centre and in a daily global teleconference are able to discuss the latest information and harmonize their response. The SHOC is equipped with the latest information and communication technology to allow proper response and adequate coordination.
The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean is on heightened alert and remains vigilant on a 24/7 basis. The Regional Office is working closely with all the Member States in the Region, providing necessary technical support to face jointly this threat to public health. The SHOC was most recently used over a one month period in January 2009 in order to coordinate the humanitarian response to the crisis in the Gaza Strip.
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