Introduction

The 21st century has witnessed an alarming rise in pandemics and transboundary health threats, revealing critical gaps in global health systems, preparedness, and response coordination. The Managing Pandemics and Global Health Threats Training Course is an intensive, forward-thinking program designed to equip health professionals, policymakers, emergency planners, and global health actors with the strategic skills, tools, and frameworks necessary to effectively prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks and complex health emergencies.

This course integrates cutting-edge global health security practices, real-time surveillance strategies, pandemic preparedness planning, and emergency health system strengthening to address threats ranging from novel pathogens to antimicrobial resistance. Participants will gain practical expertise in managing the full pandemic lifecycle—from early warning and containment to vaccine deployment, risk communication, and recovery—while aligning with international health regulations and building cross-sector resilience against future global health crises.

Target Audience

• Public health officials and epidemiologists
• Emergency preparedness and health security planners
• Health system managers and clinical coordinators
• Infectious disease surveillance and response teams
• Government and intergovernmental health agencies
• International development and humanitarian health actors
• Researchers and academics in global health
• Risk communication and community health professionals

Course Objectives

• Understand the global landscape of pandemics and health threats
• Analyze transmission patterns and risk drivers of emerging diseases
• Design pandemic preparedness and national action plans
• Strengthen health systems for outbreak detection and rapid response
• Coordinate multi-sectoral approaches to epidemic control
• Apply epidemiological tools to surveillance and outbreak investigation
• Develop emergency communication and risk messaging strategies
• Mobilize healthcare logistics, workforce, and critical supplies
• Align national responses with international health regulations
• Promote equitable access to vaccines, treatment, and diagnostics
• Foster community resilience and continuity in essential health services

Duration

5 Days

Course Outline

Module 1: Global Health Security and Pandemic Risk Landscape

• Historical and emerging global pandemic trends
• Disease drivers: zoonotic spillovers, travel, urbanization
• International frameworks: IHR, GHSA, One Health
• Cross-border collaboration and data sharing
• Lessons from COVID-19, Ebola, SARS, and H1N1

Module 2: Surveillance, Detection, and Early Warning Systems

• Types of surveillance: sentinel, syndromic, event-based
• Integrating lab networks and diagnostic capacity
• Early warning tools and outbreak alert thresholds
• Community-based and digital surveillance innovations
• Real-time data sharing and health intelligence platforms

Module 3: Pandemic Preparedness Planning and Scenario Modelling

• Developing national and subnational preparedness plans
• Capacity assessments and health emergency simulations
• Forecasting outbreak dynamics using epidemiological models
• Scenario planning for resource and infrastructure stress
• Designing scalable and flexible response frameworks

Module 4: Outbreak Response and Containment Strategies

• Case management, isolation, and contact tracing protocols
• Infection prevention and control (IPC) in health facilities
• Quarantine and movement restriction measures
• Coordination of inter-agency field response teams
• Mass testing and community health mobilization

Module 5: Healthcare Logistics and Operational Readiness

• Supply chain management for PPE, diagnostics, and therapeutics
• Surge workforce deployment and staffing plans
• Vaccine readiness and cold chain logistics
• Emergency medical services and triage protocols
• Hospital preparedness and bed capacity planning

Module 6: Risk Communication and Community Engagement

• Building public trust during pandemics
• Messaging strategies for behavioral change and misinformation control
• Social listening and feedback integration
• Engaging local influencers and civil society
• Addressing stigma and promoting public health compliance

Module 7: Recovery, Resilience, and Health System Strengthening

• Post-pandemic recovery planning and system adaptation
• Mental health support for frontline workers and affected communities
• Restoring disrupted health services and supply chains
• Strengthening primary care and universal health coverage
• Institutionalizing pandemic preparedness into health policy

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.