About the Division of Global Health Protection

What to know

CDC’s Division of Global Health Protection (DGHP) works with public health experts across CDC and around the world to strengthen public health systems, build outbreak response capacity, and meet international standards for global health security.

A group of people in personal protective equipment huddle around a table to watch one person who is holding a pipette over a desk.

What we do

Global health security means having the public health capacity to identify health threats, stop outbreaks from becoming epidemics, and save lives. Countries join together under two international frameworks to commit to global health security worldwide: the International Health Regulations (IHR) and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).

DGHP helps partner countries meet their obligations to these agreements through leading GHSA implementation and engagement efforts for CDC. We work together with GHSA partner nations to identify health emergencies, track dangerous diseases, and rapidly respond to outbreaks or other public health threats.

Focus

We work with public health experts and partners in over 30 countries to focus on strengthening country capabilities in four essential areas:

  • Public health workforce development
  • Emergency preparedness and response
  • Surveillance systems
  • Laboratory networks

Goals

Our goal is to advance research and develop innovative solutions to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks and other public health threats.

Why it matters

We are committed to helping countries create resilient public health systems that are ready to respond to health threats.‎

Our investments in global health security protect Americans and people worldwide and are critical to help countries progress toward preventing, detecting, and rapidly responding to emerging disease threats. Through sustained collaborations and continued investments from multiple partners, we will continue to improve global health security and ensure a safer and healthier world for all.

How we do it

Our staff enhances global health security (GHS) through crucial programs and activities that:

  • Build global workforce capacity through programs such as the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP)
  • Detect and respond to disease outbreaks through evidence-based surveillance
  • Respond to and support the recovery of health systems through technical assistance
  • Assess and work to reduce the burden of disease including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more
  • Support transparent, rigorous assessments of GHS capacities through established processes
  • Develop National Public Health Institutes that provide a foundation for local public health expertise
  • Gather, analyze, publish, and use relevant information to inform policy and program decisions

Leadership

image of Black man wearing a US Public Health Service uniform. Black jacket, black tie, and white shirt. CAPT Simon Agolory, MD. Division of Global Health Protection, Acting Director
Division of Global Health Protection
CAPT Simon Agolory, MD, Acting Director

CAPT Simon Agolory, MD leads global programs to build critical health security systems, protecting people from global outbreaks and public health threats.

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Content Source:
Global Health Center