March 6, 2020, WHO provided technical guidance and facilitation support for the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ethiopian Public Health Institution (EPHI) COVID-19 Table Top Simulation Exercise (TTX), which was held on March 5, 2020. 

The purpose of the exercise was to evaluate the preparedness and response mechanisms for managing a potential COVID-19 outbreak that currently exists within the health system in Ethiopia. Based on the weaknesses identified during the TTX, plans were drawn up to further strengthen the COVID-19 preparedness and response activities.

Dr. Ebba Abate, Director General of EPHI, in his opening remark said that the engagement of different government sectors and development partners is very necessary in such situations. “This health emergency preparedness simulation exercise will have a significant impact on the preparedness and clearly showing the improvements that must be made.” 

Participants from EPHI’s Public Health Emergency Operation Center, WHO, CDC, Ministry of Defense and Industrial Parks participated in the Table-top Exercise. They participated in and reviewed the processes involved in preparing and responding to COVID-19 events, from the detection of a case until the declaration of the end of the outbreak. 

After completion of the exercise, Aggrey Bategereza (MD. MPH), the WHO Country Office Ethiopia Emergency Preparedness and Response Team Lead, said “WHO is pleased to support such an important exercise. We are always ready to work in collaboration with the Ethiopian government to strengthen the system and to put in place appropriate measures for the response.”

The TTX was prepared based on the WHO monitoring response implementation checklist for COVID-19 and was designed for national-level operational stakeholders involved in public health emergency preparedness and response. The roles and responsibilities, as well as coordination and collaboration between the response team, were simulated.