This document discusses strengthening health emergency preparedness and response capacities in the Republic of Moldova. It notes that the European Region faces health threats from infectious diseases, natural disasters, and other emergencies. A Joint External Evaluation found that Moldova has some strengths in public health legislation but needs to strengthen specific capacities like surveillance systems, multisectoral coordination, and long-term preparedness planning. The WHO supports Moldova's response to health emergencies and recommends developing a national action plan to build sustainable emergency capacities as part of achieving universal health coverage.

1. WHO Health Emergencies Programme
at country level
Investing for a safe and
healthy Republic of
Moldova
Dr Igor Pokanevych
WHO Representative
WHO Country Office – Republic of Moldova

2. The European Region is vulnerable to
health threats
• Infectious diseases and measles epidemics
• Outbreaks of West Nile Virus (WNV) and
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)
• Natural disasters (earthquakes, floods,
forest fires, landslides)
• Man-made disasters (chemical or radiation
leaks)
• Armed conflicts and spill over from
neighbouring emergencies

3. Health emergencies affect
lives and livelihoods
In a typical year, Europe
suffers economic losses
of € 10 billion* from
disasters and
emergencies, and
hundreds of people die
or become severely ill
March 2018.* Estimate quoted in EFDRR. High-Level Dialogue Communiqué from 2017. European Forum for Disaster Risk
Reduction, Istanbul, 26–28 March 2017.

4. 15 European
countries and
areas have
been
identified by
WHO for
priority action
1All references to Kosovo in this document should be understood to be in
the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)

5. Republic of Moldova is prone to specific
health threats
Floods and earthquakes•
Foodborne disease•
outbreaks
Vaccine preventable•
diseases outbreaks
Conflict•
Republic of Moldova flood hazard map
data.euro.who.int/e-atlas/europe

6. IHR core capacities: what and why?
Structures, skills and people needed for•
health system to prepare for, detect
and respond to health emergencies
Legal obligation under the• International
Health Regulations of 2005 (IHR)
Capacities all WHO Member States•
committed to build, maintain and
report on annually

7. All countries report on 13 capacities
1. Legislation and financing
2. IHR Coordination and National Focal Point (NFP) functions
3. Zoonotic events and the human–animal interface
4. Food safety
5. Laboratory
6. Surveillance
7. Human resources
8. National Health Emergency Framework
9. Health service provision
10. Risk communication
11. Points of entry
12. Chemical events
13. Radiation emergencies

8. Why must the Republic of Moldova
strengthen its IHR core capacities?
Protect lives and livelihoods1.
Achieve best value2. -for-money
health investment
Show leadership & commitment3.
Observe legal obligations under4.
IHR treaty
Meet GPW5. 13 goals, help
achieve UHC and other SDG
goals

9. Health emergency capacity:
a “best buy” health investment
• Many emergencies are
preventable, or can be mitigated
• Well-prepared countries see
fewer deaths and less disruption
Analysis by WHO shows $ 1 spent on health
emergency capacity produces a return of $ 8.30*
*WHO. A Healthier Humanity: The WHO Investment Case for 2019–2023, pp. 24–28. Geneva: World Health
Organization; 2018.

10. WHO’s “Triple Billion” is every country’s
2023 target*
• 1 billion more people benefiting from UHC
• 1 billion more people better protected
from health emergencies
• 1 billion more people enjoying better
health and well-being
*WHO General Programme of Work for 2019–2023 (GPW 13)

11. Protecting people from health
emergencies contributes to SDGs

12. All countries committed to the Action Plan
to Improve Public Health Preparedness and
Response in the WHO European Region
VISION
GOAL
A WHO European Region where the impact of
health emergencies is prevented or minimized
Strengthen and maintain adequate capacities in
the European Region to effectively prevent,
prepare for, detect and respond to public health
threats and to provide assistance to affected
countries, when necessary, through three strategic
pillars

13. Public health
needs to be
protected across
the whole health
emergency cycle

14. “Two sides of the same coin”
• Strengthening health emergency capacity strengthens health
system resilience and UHC
• Strengthening health systems strengthens capacity to
prepare and respond to emergencies

15. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
The Republic of Moldova 's road to stronger health emergency capacities
@WHO/Jaqueline Christensen @WHO/Mihail Grigorev @WHO/Margarita Spasenovska @WHO/Jerome Flayosc

16. • 55% of reporting countries have preparedness
and response plans at all levels
• 73% of reporting countries have response
coordination and incident management at all
levels
• In 60% of reporting countries, all levels have
access to resources with which to mount a
response
• 50% of reporting countries have case
management services for all hazards at all
levels
©WHO
Progress towards protecting people in Europe

17. The Republic of Moldova invested in
IHR monitoring and evaluation
• Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of Republic of Moldova’s IHR
core capacities completed in 2018
• JEE found some strengths:
– Good public health legislation and policies in place (though systematic
problems / lack of resources for implementation)
• To follow-up on the JEE, the Ministry of Health and IHR
working groups developing National Action Plan on Public
Health Emergency Preparedness

18. How do Republic of Moldova’s capacities
need to be strengthened?
Specific capacities identified
by JEE for strengthening
JEE’s cross-cutting recommendations on capacity
strengthening
Long-term strategy Adopt a 5-year national action plan for public health
emergency capacities, with a clear definition of funding
time frame for each action
Human resources Develop public health emergency management training
programme for training and exercising all sectors from
local to national level
Multisectoral coordination Implement One Health and All-hazards approaches
across government, sectors and ministries
Surveillance and early warning
systems
Update electronic systems and implement information
technology (IT) solutions for data collection and
communication

19. WHO in action in the
Republic of Moldova
Supporting response to ongoing measles outbreak (2018–2019)
• Acute public health event risk assessment: outbreak graded “code orange” (high
risk) with vaccine coverage 87% (Aug 2018)
• Communication plan developed and implemented to encouraging vaccination
• Awareness raising and capacity-building for paediatricians and family doctors on
early detection and isolation of measles cases
• Provision of additional lab test kits
• Continuous support for health, education and advocacy materials

20. Conclusion: the opportunity is there
• Crucial for the Republic of Moldova government to follow up JEE by
agreeing a National Action Plan on Public Health Emergency
Preparedness
– Shows political commitment and leadership
– Basis for finding resources
• WHO and partners offer advice and technical support but domestic
resources are key
– Health emergency capacity is part of UHC: needs to be sustainable
• Long-term well-funded strategy on health emergency capacities will
save lives and protect the Republic of Moldova’s economy

21. WHO Health Emergencies
Programme in the
European Region
http://www.euro.who.int/
en/health-topics/health-
emergencies
WHO Country Office for
Republic of Moldova
http://www.euro.who.int/
en/countries/republic-of-
moldova
Thank you