Introduction to PHEM
Amhara Public Health Institute
Public Health Emergency Management Directorate
Bahir Dar | Ethiopia
June 14, 2025
©APHI-PHEM Directorate
Presentation Outline
APHI overview
Definition of PHEM
Guiding principles of PHEM
PHEM system in Ethiopia
PHEs in Ethiopia
PHEM Pillars
©APHI-PHEM Directorate 2
Objective of Basic Level PHEM Training
To build capacity of PHEM officers/focals to improve implementation of
public health emergency management activities on:
Early detection, notification and reporting of any public health threats,
Analyze, interpret and communicate information
Public health emergencies Preparedness
Prompt response and,
Recover from various public health emergencies
©APHI-PHEM Directorate 3
Amhara National Regional State Public
Health Institute (APHI)
APHI has been established in 2015 as an autonomous regional
government office having its own legal entity
Strategic Objectives (SO):
1) Enhance Health Research Development through Evidence Generation,
Transfer of Technologies, and Use
2) Build a Resilient Public Health Emergency and Risk Management System
3) Enhance and Build Sustainable and Resilient Quality Assured Laboratory
System and Services
4) Enhance Data and Information management System and Use
5) Enhance Institutional Capacity Development and Governance
©APHI-PHEM Directorate 4
Amhara National Regional State Public Health
Institute (APHI)…
Strategic Directives (SD):
Overall, APHI has put in place 26 strategic directives
Six strategic directive for PHEM:
Improve the Public Health Early Warning System
Improve Public Health Emergency Preparedness
Improve Public Health Emergency Response
Enhance Public Health Emergency Operation Center
Improve Public Health Recovery and Resilience System
Enhance Malaria Disease Burden Reduction and Elimination
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Amhara National Regional State Public Health
Institute (APHI)-Organizational Structure
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Introduction to Public Health Emergency
Management (PHEM)
What is Public Health Emergency (PHE)?
Public Health Emergency (PHE) is an event or disaster that
threaten the health of communities or groups of people.
Examples:
Disease outbreaks /pandemics,
Disasters (Natural and human made),
Biological terrorist attacks
Chemical spills
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Introduction to Public Health Emergency
Management (PHEM)…
PHEM is the process of:
anticipating,
preventing,
preparing for,
detecting,
responding to,
controlling, and recovering from consequences of public health
threats in order that health, social and economic impacts are
minimized
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Introduction …
Goal of PHEM:
To markedly reduce mortality and morbidity due to epidemics and other
Public Health Emergencies and minimize associated social and
economic crisis
General Objective:
To prepare for, detect early, and contain epidemics locally ; respond
timely to other public health emergencies and recover quickly from
their impacts
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Introduction …
Guiding Principles of PHEM
Multi-Hazard-Approach: The PHEM system evolved from a traditional
communicable disease orientation to a more modern multi-hazard approach
Risk Assessment to Recovery: PHEM will cover the entire cycle of an
emergency or disaster; from prevention and detection to response and
recovery.
Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Each and every level in the health system
is required to understand the health hazards and risks posed on their
population
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Introduction…
International Health Regulation (IHR 2005): It is a legally binding
document that entered into force on 15 June 2007 with the purpose to:
Prevent,
Protect against,
Control and provide public health response to the international
spread of disease in ways that are relevant and restricted to public
health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with
international traffic and trade
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Public Health System Challenges
Natural and manmade public health emergencies and disasters have
become major challenges around the globe
Increased international traffic (goods, people like tourism )
Ecological changes (global warming/extreme weather)
Microbial adaptation (=resistance)
Societal breakdown (conflicts, recession)
Increasing human population
Emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases
Other factors that pose a risk to the public’s health
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PHEs in Ethiopia
The emergence and reemergence of new and old pathogens in
Ethiopia for the past few years:
Yellow fever
Measles
Dengue fever
Chikungunya fever
Cholera
Meningococcal meningitis
Malaria
IDPs, …etc.
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PHEM System Evolution in Ethiopia
Before 1998
Multiple Diseases Since Sep.2009 onwards-
Surveillance PHEM
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IDSR Vs PHEM
IDSR: PHEM:
Mainly focus on Epidemic disease Multi-hazard approach
Surveillance data comes monthly Surveillance data comes weekly
Smallest reporting unit is Health Smallest reporting unit is Health post
Center Robust early warning system
Weak early warning system Prompt response
Delayed response Recovery one of the pillar
No recovery
Event based surveillance
No event based surveillance
Only some DRM Component Includes all DRM components
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Public Health Emergency Management
System
PHEM is designed to ensure:
Early detection of any public health threats,
Preparedness related to logistic and fund administration
Prompt response and,
Recovery from various public health emergencies
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Pillars of PHEM
Four pillars of PHEM:
Early warning and Surveillance;
Public Health Emergency Preparedness;
Public Health Emergency Response, and
Recovery and Resilience
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Pillars of PHEM …
Early
Risks to
Warning
Public Health
Need of the
Public to be Identified Risks
protected
Public Health
Emergency
PREPAREDNESS
System, supplies and trained
Identified HR
Threats Public Health
Emergency
Reports RESPONSE
/Data
RECOVERY
Correctiv
e Actions
The Public will be protected
from health consequences of
emergencies
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PHEM Structure at Amhara Region
PHEM
Malaria
Elimination
Program
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PHEM Governance Structure
©APHI-PHEM Directorate 20
Thank You !!!
©APHI-PHEM Directorate 21
