ZIG Newsletter
Date: 29/04/2025
Protecting the Universal Right to Health: RKI at HNPW 2025 and the 10-Year EMT Anniversary
At the Humanitarian Networking and Partnership Weeks (HNPW) 2025 in Geneva, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) contributed to discussions on protecting the universal right to public health. The event also marked the 10-year anniversary of the EMT classification system, which ensures minimum standards for medical deployments. RKI staff participated in decision-making, strategic planning, and joint EMT–INSARAG meetings focused on quality standards for effective responses. The involvement of the German Ministry of Health and Federal Foreign Office underscored Germany’s commitment to global public health. more
Co-Creation Workshop of the EU Joint Action for Global Health Impact in Berlin Looks into Strengthening Strategic Dialogue in Global Health
On 17–18 March 2025, the Co-Creation Workshop of the EU Joint Action for Global Health Impact (EU JA GHI) was held in Berlin, hosted at the German Federal Ministry of Health and organized by the Robert Koch Institute, alongside colleagues from Finland. The event brought together EU and non-EU policymakers and experts to co-create proposals for strengthening strategic dialogue, coordination, and joint priority setting in global health. Discussions highlighted the importance of equal partnerships, community involvement, and viewing global health as a joint responsibility. Several proposals will be piloted as part of the EU JA GHI. more
Guinea: RKI supports first Training-of-Trainers programme on infection prevention in rural region
As part of the PASQUALE project under the Global Health Protection Programme (GHPP), the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) supported Guinea’s first Training-of-Trainers (ToT) programme on infection prevention and control (IPC) in the rural Faranah region. The ToT aimed to enable healthcare workers to train peers in their local facilities. Implemented in four phases from March 2024 to March 2025, the programme included initial training, vocational teaching, local rollouts, and on-site evaluations by national IPC experts. The initiative was well received and represents a key step in sustainable IPC capacity-building. more
RKI WHO IGS Project Qualitative Field Work in Madagascar
As part of the RKI WHO Hub collaborative IGS Project, researchers conducted qualitative field work in Madagascar in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health, LA2M, and INSPC. Using semi-structured interviews and focus groups, the team explored potential policy pathways to strengthen the public health system through pathogen genomic and surveillance data. Fieldwork took place in Antananarivo and Miarinarivo, with preparations underway for a Policy Dialogue workshop to share findings, discuss implications, and identify opportunities for strengthening integrated genomic surveillance in Madagascar. more
Empowering the Next Generation of Global Health Experts: The GOARN Berlin Fellowship Program
The GOARN Berlin Fellowship Program, coordinated by the WHO Hub, Robert Koch Institute (RKI), and the GOARN Operational Support Team, offers public health professionals from GOARN partner institutions an opportunity to gain expertise in epidemic intelligence, outbreak response, and global health security. In 2025, the program continues by welcoming a new group of fellows. Previous cohorts have worked on projects including event-based surveillance, rabies and cholera preparedness, and One Health training. The fellowship provides hands-on experience and international collaboration, contributing to stronger, more resilient health systems. more
Enhancing Public Health Research: Hepatitis B Prevalence and Immunity Study in Guinea
From March 2–7, researchers from ZIG 2 and ZIG 4 conducted fieldwork in Guinea with the Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP) as part of the VRSA project. The current phase focuses on hepatitis B prevalence, immunity, and vaccine coverage among children aged 1–5, supporting national decisions on introducing a birth dose vaccine. The team validated dried blood spot (DBS) samples against serum samples and analyzed specimens from both vaccinated children and adult hepatitis B patients. The visit also strengthened collaboration with INSP and set the stage for future cooperation. more
ZIG supports EMT Coordination Cell training in Lithuania
From 16–22 March 2025, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) supported an EMT Coordination Cell (EMTCC) training in Vilnius, Lithuania, in collaboration with WHO EURO, the WHO Country Office Lithuania, and the German EMT National Focal Point at ZIG 3. The training, held under the EMT TTT project within the Global Health Protection Programme, brought together 32 participants from the Baltic States and other EURO member states. It focused on EMT coordination, stakeholder engagement, and the use of KIMEP, including a simulation exercise. Graduates joined the international EMTCC expert pool for future deployment. more
Public events
CARE Webinar: Defeating Meningitis by 2030
We are pleased to announce the next CARE Webinar featuring Professor Caroline Trotter, Professor of Global Health at the University of Cambridge and Director of Cambridge-Africa. She also leads the Vaccine Impact Modelling Consortium at Imperial College London and serves as co-chair of the WHO Technical Taskforce for Defeating Meningitis by 2030.
In this webinar, Professor Trotter will discuss the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa and highlight ongoing efforts to Defeat Meningitis by 2030. The talk will also showcase the impact of vaccination on reducing the burden of meningitis and explore future opportunities and challenges
Date: 21st May 2025
Time: 16:00 - 17:00 CET
Link: Webinar
Strength in Numbers: "310 Institutions, One Global Response"
The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), coordinated by WHO, now unites over 310 institutions worldwide, including public health agencies, NGOs, and academic centers.
By working together, GOARN ensures rapid, coordinated responses to public health emergencies, strengthening global epidemic intelligence and outbreak preparedness.
Programs like the GOARN Berlin Fellowship, coordinated with the Robert Koch Institute and the WHO Hub, empower the next generation of public health experts, showing how collaboration across hundreds of partners translates into stronger and faster responses to global health threats.
Sources:
https://www.rki.de/DE/Institut/Internationales/ZIG-News/News/2025_GOARN-Stipendienprogramm.html
About the ZIG Newsletter
The ZIG Newsletter is a publication by the Centre for International Health Protection (ZIG) at the Robert Koch Institute, dedicated to sharing updates on global health initiatives, research, and collaborations. Through this newsletter, we aim to highlight our ongoing efforts to strengthen health systems worldwide, foster partnerships, and address pressing public health challenges. Stay connected for more insights and opportunities to engage in advancing global health.
Recent publications
Abucar, E., Kern, M., Kurth, T., Meierkord, A., Gertler, M., Seybold, J., Theuring, S., & Mockenhaupt, F. (2025). Health-related quality of life up to two years after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A descriptive cohort study. Epidemiology and Infection. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268825000366
Jakob, U., Kloth, S., & Mergler, I. (2024). Investigation of Alleged Use of Biological Weapons PRIF Report(7). https://doi.org/10.48809/prifrep2407
Martín-Sánchez, M., Siffczyk, C., Loenenbach, A., Kajikhina, K., & Zeitlmann, N. (2025). [Evaluation of the Robert Koch Institute’s missions for COVID-19 outbreak investigations by local and state health authorities in Germany]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz, 68(4), 458-466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-025-04032-6
Meierkord, A., Schulze, D., Gertler, M., Seybold, J., Mall, M. A., Kurth, T., Mockenhaupt, F. P., & Theuring, S. (2025). Post-infection symptoms up to 24 months after COVID-19: a matched cohort study in Berlin, Germany. Front Public Health, 13, 1513664. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1513664
Sikuvi, K., Nghitukwa, N., Kakehongo, N., Katjitae, I., Matos, C., Oedi, P., Netha, S. M., Nepolo, E., & Winter, C. (2025). Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection amongst health workers, Windhoek, Namibia. Vaccine, 126977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.126977