Revolutionary Secret to Transform Health Collaborations Across Borders!

“Unveiling the Crucial Role of Points of Entry: How Borders Became a Battleground in the Fight Against COVID-19”

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on global borders, disrupting the flow of essential healthcare, medical supplies, and even basic necessities. This chaos not only impacted cross-border movements but also seeded confusion and distrust among nations. Dr. Evangelos Karagiannis from the Port Health Authority of Thessaloniki, Greece, highlighted the ill-defined role of Point of Entry (PoE) authorities in coordinating the pandemic response, affecting the clearance of crucial medical goods.

PoEs, encompassing ports, ground crossings, and airports, stand as the first line of defense against international health threats. With the pandemic exposing their critical role, Dr. Karagiannis emphasized the necessity of collaboration among institutions to maintain trade connectivity, aid recovery, and fortify resilience against future disruptions.

To bolster PoE capacities, WHO/Europe, in collaboration with the WHO Collaborating Centre for the International Health Regulations: Points of Entry (University of Thessaly, Greece), organized a workshop aiming to enhance cross-border collaboration. This gathering brought together officials and experts from the western Balkans and neighboring countries, emphasizing the importance of sharing experiences and knowledge exchange for effective border health collaboration.

Participants echoed the significance of continued cooperation post-COVID-19, underlining the workshop’s role in fostering a network of PoE experts for sustained collaboration. As Dr. Abebayehu Assefa Mengistu of the WHO Health Emergencies Balkan Hub stressed, the core capacities established at PoEs are crucial for timely detection and response to potential hazards.

The workshop, endorsed by the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in 2018, aimed to address challenges faced by countries in implementing IHR (2005) capacities. It sought to guide neighboring nations in harmonizing resources, improving coordination, and fostering joint efforts against shared public health threats.

Supported by the European Union, this workshop served as a pivotal step toward enhancing cross-border collaboration and fortifying PoE capacities for a resilient response to future health emergencies.

Source: WHO