The ongoing Ebola outbreak clearly demonstrates how the inability to prevent, detect, and control a threat in one part of the world poses a threat to everyone, everywhere. It has the potential to cause enormous damage in terms of lives lost, economic impact and human development around the world.

As no country is in isolation, global health security requires a strong multisectoral approach at the global, national and community level. In addition, at the core of the issue, health security requires country ownership that goes far beyond just the health sector and involves the engagement of all levels of government to fulfill the obligations of the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005). 

Even though progress has been made to strengthen public health capacities and systems required to manage disease outbreaks, remaining gaps and weaknesses are significant and require renewed commitment from WHO, Member States and partners with the support of the international community.

Global health security, and fully implemented IHR capacities within strong health systems, will only come about through strong leadership and coordination between WHO Member States, donors, technical agencies, implementing partners, nongovernmental organizations, communities and national governments. Existing regional and global frameworks such as the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR), Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), and bilateral programmes and multilateral initiatives will facilitate these efforts.

These were some of the key actions discussed at the ‘Building Health Security Beyond Ebola’ meeting that brought together 200 high-level experts in Cape Town, South Africa from 13-15 July. What came out loudly at the meeting is a strong reinforcement and endorsement of WHO as the guardian of global public health through its central coordination and leadership role.

However, to achieve this role, WHO must work more effectively across sectors and governments, ensure strong political and financial support from Member States, harmonize collective efforts, and ensure the Organization is transformed into a properly skilled and equipped agency.

To spearhead global health security efforts, WHO will focus on supporting countries to carry out joint assessments, develop, implement, and test national plans, and monitor implementation as part of strengthening health systems. This will include strengthening the understanding of the interplay between people, animals and the environment that are an important point of origin of diseases such as Ebola.

Global health security is all about strong health systems and the most vulnerable countries are those with the least developed systems – many in the African Region. With the full support and endorsement of our partners, WHO is committed to intensifying efforts required to meet the demands and challenges of an increasingly globalized world in order to tackle current and future health security threats.

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For more information, please contact:

Technical contacts:

Dr Ibrahima-Socé Fall; Tel: + 472 413 9695; Email: socef [at] who.int

Dr Delanyo Dovlo; Tel: +472 4139388; Email: dovlod [at] who.int

Media contact:

Dr Cory Couillard; Tel: + 472 413 9995; Email: couillardc [at] who.int