Al Bakri Deema, Jansen Andreas, Newman Edmund, Suk Jonathan, Asghar Rana Jawad, Merabet Mouad, Hess Sarah, Albayat Soha, Khader Yousef, Bashier Haitham, Al-Gunaid Magid, Al Nsour Mohannad
The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network, Amman, Jordan.
Federal Information Centre for International Health Protection, WHO Collaborating Centre for GOARN Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
Front Public Health. 2025 Aug 13;13:1653111. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1653111. eCollection 2025.
The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) faces significant public health challenges due to the increasing frequency and impact of pandemics, natural disasters, and ongoing political instability. Despite progress in areas such as vaccination rates, surveillance, and laboratory capacities, gaps in pandemic preparedness persist, underscoring the need for comprehensive, multi-sectoral strategies. The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) organized a roundtable during its Eighth Regional Conference to examine key aspects of pandemic preparedness and response, focusing on lessons learned from recent health crises like COVID-19. The session highlighted critical themes, including the importance of sustainable investments in preparedness, addressing health workforce shortages, fostering multi-sectoral collaboration, and prioritizing equity. Panelists and participants emphasized the necessity of trust-building and community engagement as foundational elements for effective health interventions. Discussions also explored innovative frameworks, such as the WHO's Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative, which integrates adaptable and transmission-based approaches. The roundtable concluded with a call for stronger leadership, enhanced governance, and institutionalized learning mechanisms to ensure that lessons from past crises are effectively integrated into future strategies. By transitioning from reactive responses to proactive preparedness, the EMR can build resilient health systems capable of managing future public health emergencies and advancing regional and global health security.
东地中海区域（EMR）由于大流行病、自然灾害的频率和影响不断增加以及持续的政治不稳定而面临重大的公共卫生挑战。尽管在疫苗接种率、监测和实验室能力等领域取得了进展，但大流行防范方面的差距依然存在，这凸显了制定全面、多部门战略的必要性。东地中海公共卫生网络（EMPHNET）在其第八次区域会议期间组织了一次圆桌会议，以审查大流行防范和应对的关键方面，重点是从COVID-19等近期卫生危机中吸取的教训。该会议突出了关键主题，包括对防范工作进行可持续投资的重要性、解决卫生人力短缺问题、促进多部门合作以及将公平作为优先事项。小组成员和与会者强调，建立信任和社区参与作为有效卫生干预措施的基础要素是必要的。讨论还探讨了创新框架，如世界卫生组织的新兴威胁防范与应对能力（PRET）倡议，该倡议整合了适应性和基于传播的方法。圆桌会议最后呼吁加强领导、改善治理并建立制度化的学习机制，以确保将过去危机的经验教训有效纳入未来战略。通过从被动应对转向主动防范，东地中海区域可以建立有韧性的卫生系统，能够管理未来的公共卫生紧急情况并推进区域和全球卫生安全。
