Verbesserung der Pandemieprävention und One Health in der ECOWAS Region Improving Pandemic Prevention and One Health in the ECOWAS Region Das FZ-Vorhaben Pandemieprävention und One Health in der ECOWAS Region knüpft an das bestehende Vorhaben Stärkung der epidemiologischen Dienste und Gesundheitssysteme in der ECOWAS-Region (PROALAB) Phase I und II an und erweitert dieses um eine Komponente zu vernachlässigten Tropenkrankheiten (NTDs). Instabile wirtschaftliche und politische Rahmenbedingungen in der ECOWAS Region spiegeln sich in den unzureichenden Gesundheitssystemen wider. Der Ausbruch der bisher größten Ebola-Epidemie machte das Versagen nationaler Gesundheitssysteme und internationaler Mechanismen zur frühzeitigen Diagnose und Eindämmung der Epidemie deutlich. Die Notwendigkeit eines funktionierenden Epidemie-Präventionssystems wurde durch die Covid-19 Pandemie unterstrichen.In Kombination mit NTDs (Neglected Tropical Diseases) leidet die Bevölkerung in der Region unter einer sehr hohen Krankheitslast. Es fehlt an Vernetzung der Forschung zu NTD sowie deren flächendeckender Überwachung und Meldung.Ziel der FZ-Maßnahme ist es, einen Beitrag zum Aufbau und zur Stärkung eines funktionsfähigen epidemiologischen Überwachungssystems und einen Beitrag zur Bekämpfung von NTD in der ECOWAS-Region zu leisten.Es sind drei Komponenten vorgesehen: Komponente I umfasst die Weiterführung der bedarfsorientierten Finanzierung von Ausstattung und Geräten der nationalen oder regionalen Referenzlabore sowie die Verbesserung der Laborkompetenzen in wichtigen Querschnittsbereichen.Komponente II umfasst die bedarfsorientierte antragsbasierte Finanzierung von Maßnahmen zur Bekämpfung und Kontrolle von NTD gemäß den Empfehlungen der WHO. Unter Komponente III werden Kapazitäten der WAHO gestärkt.Zielgruppe des Vorhabens ist die Bevölkerung in der ECOWAS-Region sowie Gesundheitspersonal. Besonders vulnerable Gruppen sollen von der Komponente zur Bekämpfung von NTD profitieren, da diese überrepräsentativ von vernachlässigten Tropenkrankheiten betroffen sind. The FC project Pandemic Prevention and One Health in the ECOWAS Region builds on the existing project Strengthening Epidemiological Services and Health Systems in the ECOWAS Region (PROALAB) Phases I and II and expands it to include a component on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Unstable economic and political conditions in the ECOWAS region are reflected in the inadequate health systems. The outbreak of the largest Ebola epidemic to date highlighted the failure of national health systems and international mechanisms to diagnose and contain the epidemic at an early stage. The need for a functioning epidemic prevention system was emphasised by the Covid-19 pandemic.In combination with NTDs, the population in the region suffers from a very high disease burden. There is a lack of networking of research on NTDs and their nationwide monitoring and reporting.The aim of the FC measure is to contribute to the establishment and strengthening of a functioning epidemiological surveillance system and to help combat NTDs in the ECOWAS region.Three components are planned: Component I comprises the continuation of needs-based financing of equipment and devices of the national or regional reference laboratories as well as the improvement of laboratory competences in important cross-cutting areas.Component II comprises demand-oriented, application-based financing of measures to combat and control NTDs in accordance with WHO recommendations. Component III strengthens the capacities of the WAHO.The target group of the programme is the population in the ECOWAS region as well as health personnel. Vulnerable groups in particular are to benefit from the component to combat NTDs, as they are over-representatively affected by neglected tropical diseases. Stärkung der Epidemiologischen Dienste und Gesundheitssysteme in ECOWAS zur Pandemieprävention und One Health mit einer Komponente zu Vernachlässigten Tropenkrankheiten (Neglected Tropical Diseases - NTD). The FC project Pandemic Prevention and One Health in the ECOWAS Region builds on the existing project Strengthening Epidemiological Services and Health Systems in the ECOWAS Region (PROALAB) Phases I and II and expands it to include a component on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Unstable economic and political conditions in the ECOWAS region are reflected in the inadequate health systems. The outbreak of the largest Ebola epidemic to date highlighted the failure of national health systems and international mechanisms to diagnose and contain the epidemic at an early stage. The need for a functioning epidemic prevention system was emphasised by the Covid-19 pandemic.In combination with NTDs, the population in the region suffers from a very high disease burden. There is a lack of networking of research on NTDs and their nationwide monitoring and reporting.The aim of the FC measure is to contribute to the establishment and strengthening of a functioning epidemiological surveillance system and to help combat NTDs in the ECOWAS region.Three components are planned: Component I comprises the continuation of needs-based financing of equipment and devices of the national or regional reference laboratories as well as the improvement of laboratory competences in important cross-cutting areas.Component II comprises demand-oriented, application-based financing of measures to combat and control NTDs in accordance with WHO recommendations. Component III strengthens the capacities of the WAHO.The target group of the programme is the population in the ECOWAS region as well as health personnel. Vulnerable groups in particular are to benefit from the component to combat NTDs, as they are over-representatively affected by neglected tropical diseases.