Public Health Emergency Operations Center in Juba – Photo: WHO

The Ministry of Health has handed over the Public Health Emergency Operations Center to the National Public Health Institute in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s response to health emergencies.

According to the Ministry, the handover transfers the facility to the National Public Health Institute, the government agency responsible for detecting disease outbreaks, managing health emergencies, and running key diagnostic laboratories.

In a statement over the weekend, the Ministry of Health said it conducted the handover in a ceremony attended by Vice President for Service Cluster Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Akuei Bona Malual, and Minister of Health Dr. Luk Thompson.

The ceremony was also attended by officials from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and other partners.

Established in October 2018, the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) serves as the central hub for coordinating the country’s response to public health threats and outbreaks.

The facility was set up through a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), and provides real-time data and evidence-based information to guide national decisions.

The facility was crucial in the response to COVID-19 and other recent health emergencies in the country.