Learning from COVID-19 to prevent and prepare for pandemics in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

EMARIS Conference 2023: Convergence of science, policy, and practice on acute respiratory infections in post COVID‐19 Eastern Mediterranean Region

“…4 The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is home to nearly 700 million people across 22 diverse countries and territories spread over South and West Asia, the Middle East and North Africa with its unique geographical, political and health system challenges. 5 The 3rd Scientific Conference on Acute Respiratory Infections in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMARIS Conference) and the 6th Meeting of the EMARIS Network, brings together experts on acute respiratory infections (ARI), disease surveillance, preparedness and response to epidemics and pandemics. The conference is organized by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, in partnership with the Influenza Division of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several other partner organizations and networks.…”

Towards healthier and better prepared Eastern Mediterranean Region: moving forward post-COVID-19

“…The region has learnt several lessons from this pandemic. [2][3][4][5] The pandemic experience has uncovered gaps in overall capacity for preparedness and response to emergencies, but more visibly exposed weaknesses in health systems capacities and health infrastructure. The pandemic has resulted in noticeable delays to reach the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets such as the universal health coverage (UHC).…”

“…Being home to multiple protracted emergencies, vulnerable economies and fragile health systems, EMR response to this ‘pandemic of century’ can be summarised as complex, diverse, challenging yet largely effective. The region has learnt several lessons from this pandemic 2–5. The pandemic experience has uncovered gaps in overall capacity for preparedness and response to emergencies, but more visibly exposed weaknesses in health systems capacities and health infrastructure.…”