Ministry of Health and WHO officials, including Dr Kandeel and Dr Abid, engage with participants during the final session. Photo credit: WHO Egypt11 December 2025, Cairo, Egypt – The WHO Country Office in Egypt and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, in collaboration with the Expanded Programme on Immunization at the Ministry of Health and Population and supported by the Pandemic Fund, conducted a 3-day training of trainers workshop in Cairo.
Using an interactive, skills-focused approach that combined field visits, case studies and hands-on exercises, the workshop aimed to strengthen the capacity of surveillance officers to support peripheral-level field investigations and ensure timely response to vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
A total of 25 surveillance officers from central and governorate levels across 10 governorates participated in the training. Participants visited 4 surveillance sites, applying skills gained in field investigation, rapid case detection and confirmation, and best practices for specimen collection, handling and transport, to hone timely, coordinated responses to potential public health threats
Strong performances in post-test and field activities confirmed the participants’ readiness to support peripheral-level investigations and response efforts to vaccine-preventable disease threats.
A WHO technical officer supports participants during a field visit to sentinel sites. Photo credit: WHO EgyptWith ongoing population movements continuing to pose a risk of importing viruses, strengthening rapid field investigation and response capacities is a priority.
Egypt has maintained its wild poliovirus-free status since 2004, supported by a strong routine immunization system and supplementary vaccination activities. Although several polioviruses have been imported, none have circulated locally due to high immunity levels and robust response. Continued investment in these capacities is key to sustaining progress.
Collaboration and the way forward
Deputy Minister for Health Dr Amr Kandeel and WHO Representative in Egypt Dr Nima Abid attended the final session. They acknowledged the strong collaboration between the Ministry and WHO in strengthening surveillance and rapid-response capacities and highlighted the preventive sector’s efforts to protect people living in Egypt from vaccine-preventable diseases.
WHO experts deliver a session on field investigation and response. Photo credit: WHO EgyptDr Abid commended the Ministry for maintaining strong rapid-response capacities and stressed the importance of continued investment in training and field investigations to sustain progress in controlling vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr Kandeel underlined the importance of developing a core team capable of supporting field investigations and training peripheral-level staff in effective response measures.
WHO’s Country and Regional Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, will implement a 6-month basic-level of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) on immunization in the first quarter of 2026.
FETP trains health workers to detect and respond to health threats. WHO will support the Ministry in developing the training curriculum and facilitating the training.
Related links:
Strengthening surveillance systems for vaccine-preventable diseases in Egypt
Egypt becomes the first country in the Region to achieve hepatitis B control status
