Module 2: Introduction to Public Health
Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC)
Elsabetee Megrssa
4th-10th May 2022, Arba Minch
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Module Outline
Lesson 2.1: Overview of Public Health Emergency Operation Center
Lesson 2.2: Establishing the Public Health Emergency Operation Center
Lesson 2.3: Legal framework for PHEOC Establishment
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Module Objectives
At the end of this lesson the participants will be able to:
Define public health emergency operation center(PHEOC)
Describe the main objective of the PHEOC
Identify the key functions of the PHEOC
Describe legal framework for the PHEOC
Describe factors needs to be considered to establish the PHEOC
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Lesson 2.1: Overview of Public Health
Emergency Operation Center(PHEOC)
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Overview of PHEOC
What is PHEOC?
o a central location where responsible personnel gather to coordinate operational information
and resources for strategic and tactical management of public health events and emergencies.
o personnel are responsible for planning, coordinating, organizing, acquiring and allocating
resources and providing direction and control can focus these activities on responding to the
emergency.
o PHEOC: serve as central point of coordination for preparing and responding to public health
emergencies.
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Overview of PHEOC Cont..
Strengthen the public health emergency operations centers as part of a comprehensive
response program by implementing
o a common organizational model or
o Incident Management System or
o frameworks to all levels of emergency management responsibility within a jurisdiction,
o from national government to front-line emergency response services to routine
emergency disaster management activities,
o epidemic and non-epidemic public health emergencies particularly at woreda and
community levels.
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
National EOC & PHEOC
National EOC Public Health EOC
It is the name given to the It is the name given to the
EOC which is embedded in EOC which is embedded in
the Disaster Risk the health sector (MOH /
Management (national, EPHI, RHBs) and dealing
regional) Commission and specifically with health
deals with all-hazards issues
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Question
Why we need PHEOC?
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
We need PHEOC
Public health emergencies arising from public health threats continue
to be a major concern in Member States of the WHO African Region
Member States need to have functional PHEOCs to fulfil the
International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) obligations.
o Enables coordination with the wider Multi-sectoral and multi-
disciplinary nature of response
o Provides central Points for effective communication and
coordination are critical
o Timely, accurate information sharing and exchange is essential for
taking action
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
The Objective of the PHEOC
The PHEOC will be used as a centre for coordinating the Public Health
Emergency
o preparedness,
o response and
o recovery activities bringing together multi-disciplinary and multi-
sectoral experts
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Purpose of a PHEOC
To help the health authority to execute interagency coordination and
executive decision making in support of the incident response at any level
To manage day-to-day operations of the PHEOC
To support public health response needs
To provide the capability to receive, analyze, display, and monitor incident
information
To identify, organize, deploy, and track resources
To communicate, collaborate, and coordinate from a centralized location
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Question
How does the PHEOC carry-out the
coordination function?
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
How PHEOC supports coordination
Information collection and analysis
Priority setting
Resource management
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Key functions of PHEOC
Timely event specific operational decision making using the best
available information, policy, plans and technical advice
Develops emergency response plan
Collection, organization, analysis, presentation and utilization of data
and information.
Communication and coordination with internal and external response
partners
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Key functions of PHEOC Cont..
Acquisition and deployment of resources, including surge capacity and
material for supporting all PHEOC functions
Monitoring and evaluation of the preparedness, response and recovery
efforts
Monitoring financial commitments and providing administrative
services
Preparation of public communication and coordination with response
partners to support audience awareness, outreach and social
mobilization
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Progress Check
1. Define PHEOC?
2. What is the difference between EOC and
PHEOC?
3. Why do we need PHEOC?
4. Mention at least two purposes of PHEOC?
5. What are the key functions of PHEOC?
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Lesson 2.2: Establishing the Public Health
Emergency Operation Center
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Establishing PHEOC
PHEOC can be developed at all levels Federal, Regional, Zonal and Woreda. It
can also be developed in individual organizations such as department or
individual ministry.
A PHEOC may be a temporary facility or may be located in a more central or
permanently established facility.
The three essential elements for establishing and operating a PHEOC includes
o Staffing
o Systems
o Infrastructure
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Question
What factors would your
administrative level consider when
establishing facility for its PHEOC?
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Factors to consider in PHEOC
Establishment
Location
Accessibility
Safety
Size
Systems capability
Survivability
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
PHEOC Accessibility
Can key personnel get to the
PHEOC within the required
timeframe?
Is it at reasonable proximity to
lead agency and partner
organizations?
Can suppliers and support
personnel get to the PHEOC
without delay, when needed?
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Question
What should you consider when
analyzing accessibility?
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Analyzing Accessibility
Review the hazard / vulnerability
analysis to determine whether:
o The PHEOC is accessible regardless
of hazard
o Key personnel can walk to the
PHEOC if necessary
o New threats pose a risk to the
PHEOC
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Question
What do you look at when you
consider safety?
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
PHEOC Safety
Is the PHEOC in a location that is safe from:
o Natural and other hazards?
o Cascading events?
Is the PHEOC located in or near a conflict area?
Can PHEOC personnel safely walk:
o To report to the PHEOC (if necessary)?
o For meals and other activities?
Space that accommodates all functions with reasonable comfort
External venue for media briefing, interview, press conference, small group activities,
quiet work spaces
Rest areas for staffs
Parking area
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Question
How do you determine the size of your
PHEOC?
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
PHEOC Size
Depends on:
How many staff members do you need?
What equipment will they use?
How is the equipment configured?
How much additional equipment is required to ensure
interoperability and redundancy?
Is there space for:
o Conferences?
o Eating?
o Sleeping?
Incident Size?
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
PHEOC Size Cont…
Consider:
Space that accommodate all functions with reasonable
comfort
External venue for media briefing, interview, press
conference, small group activities, quiet work spaces
Rest areas for staffs
Parking area
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
PHEOC systems capability
Back up power
Water (Facility Support)
Sanitary facility
Electricity and natural gas additional emergency source
Communication facilities
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
ICT Infrastructure
Telecommunication: telephone & data
Satellite phone or radio for real time communication and messaging
if in remote area
Computer connected to LAN and internet including electronic mail
Purpose:
Ensure access to quality, timely, and useful PHEOC data
Ensure data security, privacy and confidentiality
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Question
What does survivability in an PHEOC
mean?
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
PHEOC Survivability
Survivability:
Is the culmination of all factors in the PHEOC location and design
Means the PHEOC can remain operable for an extended period of
time regardless of:
o The incident
o Other damage to the infrastructure
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
PHEOC facility management
Facility manager:
Ensure functionality of system, hardware, software, support tools of the
PHEOC
Perform maintenance
Ensure security of the PHEOC facility
Additional staff:
Like ICT support, GIS specialist and other administrative staffs are also
required
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Infrastructure requirement
Infrastructure:
o Facility
o Security
o Furniture
ICT:
o Office equipment
o Computer & ICT materials
o Telecommunication
o Network
o Security
Information management:
o Software
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Activity: How do you set up PHEOC in our
context
Instructions:
1. Work in your groups to complete this activity
2. Review your PHEOCs physical set up
3. Determine whether and how it can be improved
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Question
Do you think your administrative area
should have an alternate PHEOC?
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Alternate PHEOC
All level should have an alternate PHEOC for technological or any
other form of failure
Backup of physical infrastructure
Selection of an alternate PHEOC location should be based on the
same factors as the primary PHEOC
o Accessibility
o Safety
o Size
o Systems capability
o Survivability
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Group Discussion
Work in your groups to complete this activity?
1. How do you set up PHEOC in your context?
2. Review your PHEOCs physical set up?
3. Determine whether and how it can be improved?
4. What are the essential elements of PHEOC?
5. What factors could be affecting the PHEOC functionality in
your context?
6. How do you ensure the continuity of the operation in case of
technological or any other form of failure happened to the
primary PHEOC?
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Lesson 2.3: Legal Framework for PHEOC
Establishment
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Legal Framework for PHEOC Establishment
A legal framework may be utilized to develop the requisite legal
authority for the adequate operationalization of PHEOC.
In addition, the legal mandate for the PHEOC can help to provide clear
scope for its work and operational engagements. This helps to ensure
synergy among existing institutions and avoid potential confusion and
unnecessary duplication of efforts.
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Legal Framework for PHEOC Establishment
A PHOEC legal mandate can provide a basis for the following, among
other, core attributes:
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Legal Authority
According to DRM of Ethiopia, the NDRMC of Ethiopia
is responsible for coordinating responses to disasters
at the national level.
The MOH is a lead sector to provide and coordinate
response operations and play leading role with
respect to public health emergencies.
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Legal Authority Cont..
Based on Council Ministers Regulation No. 301 / 2013,
o EPHI has the mandate to lead and coordinate the PHE preparedness, early
warning, surveillance, response, and recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
o Similarly, the regulation number stated above also gives EPHI the
mandate to issue guidelines and manuals in all aspects of public health
The International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) require that States Parties
o develop, strengthen and maintain their capacity to respond promptly and
effectively to public health risks and public health emergencies.
o A functional PHEOC is an important component of meeting these
requirements.
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Module 2: Summary
PHEOC is a central location where responsible personnel gather to
coordinate operational information and resources for strategic and
tactical management of public health events and emergencies.
PHEOC needed for a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary nature of
response, effective communication and coordination are critical and
essential to share accurate information timely for taking action.
The three essential elements for establishing and operating a PHEOC
includes: staffing, system and structure.
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
Module 2: Summary Cont..
Things to be considered during establishment of PHEOC are:
Accessibility, Location, Safety, Size, Systems capability, Survivability
Alternative PHEOC used when the primarily PHEOC challenged by
technological or any other form of failure
Legal framework utilized to develop the requisite legal authority for
the adequate operationalization of PHEOC.
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
THANK YOU
Public Health Emergency Operations Center
