Kyrgyzstan has become the first country among the 53 countries in the WHO European Region to conduct the second round of the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) Mission. The JEE mission, which took place from 3–7 July 2023, brought together 15 international technical experts from multiple countries, technical institutions and United Nations agencies to assess Kyrgyzstan’s capacity to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to public health threats.
The JEE mission examined 19 technical areas, including immunization, laboratories and more, through a peer-to-peer, collaborative process involving international and national experts. Over the course of a week, the experts engaged in collaborative discussions and field visits to provide a comprehensive evaluation of Kyrgyzstan’s health security capabilities. The objective was to identify gaps and strengths and equip the country with valuable insights to respond effectively to emerging health threats.
“The implementation of the International Health Regulations and, in general, health emergency preparedness, is a top priority for the Kyrgyz Government. In a time when international crossings are becoming more common, effective medical and sanitary protection is becoming an integral part of ensuring public health. It is important to understand that the Joint External Evaluation should not be viewed as a negative process that only reveals problems and shortcomings. Rather, it is a unique opportunity to see our achievements and potential, as well as receive recommendations for further improvement,” pointed out Gulnara Baatyrova, Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Dr Shahin Huseynov, WHO Special Representative of the WHO Regional Director in the Kyrgyz Republic and Head of Office a.i., emphasized the importance of this voluntary JEE mission. “Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to hosting the voluntary JEE mission demonstrates its dedication to strengthening its health security capabilities and safeguarding the well-being of its population. The findings and recommendations from this evaluation will guide future efforts to enhance the country’s preparedness and response mechanisms.”
The JEE mission findings and recommendations can provide valuable insights and best practices not only for Kyrgyzstan but also for other countries and may inspire them to consider conducting their own evaluations. In addition, the JEE mission findings and recommendations will be shared within the Region as a mission report, which will foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among countries facing similar public health challenges.
The current JEE mission was possible through collaborative efforts involving experts from WHO headquarters, WHO/Europe and the WHO Country Office in Kyrgyzstan.
Source: who
