Health emergencies: WHO strengthens Togo’s response capacity

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Extract from the article: The World Health Organisation (WHO) in Togo held an official handover ceremony for equipment to the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, Universal Health Coverage and Insurance on Friday 18 September 2026 in Lomé. This support forms part of the WHO...

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) in Togo held an official handover ceremony for equipment to the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, Universal Health Coverage and Insurance on Friday 18 September 2026 in Lomé. This support forms part of the WHO’s ongoing commitment to working alongside national authorities to strengthen the health system and improve preparedness and response capacities for health emergencies.

In the face of epidemiological risks and public health emergencies, the availability of appropriate equipment and pre-positioned stocks is a key challenge. The new consignment of supplies is intended to support frontline teams and enable them to respond rapidly in the event of a health crisis.

Through this support, the WHO and its partners aim to contribute to strengthening the country’s health security by providing operational facilities with the equipment and supplies necessary for a rapid, effective and coordinated response.

“The donated supplies include medicines and inputs to combat diseases that may arise, such as malaria, dengue fever and also cholera, in a comprehensive manner,” said Dr Ouedraogo K. Hilaire, Health Strengthening Coordinator on behalf of the WHO in Togo.

This support also comes at a time when the region is grappling with the health consequences of the recent floods in Greater Lomé and the Maritime region.

According to the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health, Dr Wotobe Kokou, this donation from the emergency team helps to strengthen communities’ resilience in the face of health emergencies.

“This donation from the emergency team forms part of our efforts to manage the health impacts of the floods we have recently experienced in the Greater Lomé region and the Maritime region. These kits are intended to support communities at the grassroots level, particularly in relation to the consequences arising from the floods, such as malaria or waterborne diseases, as well as dengue fever, which may occur,” he explained.

Support for operational units

The Ministry of Health has assured the WHO that the equipment and supplies provided will be used for the benefit of the population. The main beneficiaries are the departments of the Directorate of Epidemiological Surveillance, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, and the Greater Lomé and Maritime health regions.

In particular, the equipment will help to strengthen the capacity to manage certain diseases and support teams involved in managing epidemics and other public health emergencies, particularly those related to cholera.

Beyond the immediate response to the consequences of the floods, this support thus contributes to strengthening the country’s operational capacity to deal with various health risks. It reflects the need to anticipate crises by ensuring that the necessary resources are available as close as possible to the local communities, so that action can be taken as quickly as possible.

Eméline DJESSOU (Intern)