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