WHO Strengthens Health System Resilience

The World Health Organization (WHO) is stepping up its game to help countries tackle public health challenges more effectively. In light of issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve launched a new course aimed at building health system resilience.

This course is designed for public health decision-makers and service managers at all levels, from national to community. It teaches how to prepare for and respond to both immediate crises, like disease outbreaks, and ongoing health stressors, such as chronic illnesses.

The training covers four key areas. First, it introduces what health systems resilience means and why it’s crucial. Then, it dives into how to strengthen systems before a crisis hits, followed by strategies to maintain services during emergencies. Finally, it highlights the importance of recovery and learning from past events.

Participants can complete the course in about five hours and take quizzes to test their knowledge. Those who score well will earn certificates to show off their achievements. Since this course went online in 2022, it has attracted over 6,800 enrollments, demonstrating a strong interest in building robust health systems.

This training is part of WHO’s broader mission to boost the essential functions of health systems, with support from partners like USAID and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

For more details or to sign up for the course, interested individuals can visit the OpenWHO platform, a free resource launched by WHO to provide accessible online learning on health topics.