MUSCAT : The Ministry, represented by the Epidemiological Surveillance Department at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unveiled the programmes under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Saeed bin Hareb Al Lamki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs, at the Sheraton Hotel in Muscat.

The initiatives reflect a strategic effort to strengthen Oman’s early warning and rapid response capabilities in line with Oman Vision 2040, which places human health and safety at the heart of national development priorities.

In her remarks, Dr. Amal bint Saif Al Maani, Director General of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the event-based surveillance system marks a qualitative shift in public health monitoring, as it focuses on detecting non-traditional health signals through integration across the human, environmental, and animal health sectors – an approach known as One Health. She also highlighted the graduation of a new cohort of Omani professionals trained through the empowerment program, emphasizing their role in enhancing national preparedness and creating a resilient health system.

Dr. Heather Burke, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the U.S. CDC, praised Oman’s comprehensive rollout of the EBS system across all governorates, calling it a model for early warning systems that complement existing indicator-based surveillance mechanisms.

During the event, Dr. Adel bin Saeed Al Wahaibi, Director of the Epidemiological Surveillance Department, presented the evolution of the EBS system, explaining its components, differences from traditional surveillance, and its phased implementation beginning in October 2022, with full national rollout in December 2024. He noted the system’s role in the early detection of recent outbreaks, including a norovirus outbreak in Al Dakhiliyah, and emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration and performance monitoring for sustainable success.

The Ministry has trained 188 participants from multiple sectors, including the Environment Authority, municipalities, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources. A national electronic platform, operational manuals, standardized forms, and training workshops have all been developed to ensure the system’s effective implementation.

Parallel to the surveillance initiative, the Public Health Empowerment Program aims to build national capacity in field epidemiology. Since its inception in August 2022, the program has graduated 103 participants over four batches and trained 20 mentors, preparing a skilled workforce capable of responding to public health threats.

The launch ceremony also celebrated the graduation of two new cohorts from the empowerment program, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to developing a skilled national workforce in public health and integrating the One Health approach into Oman’s broader health strategy.

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