GHSCO Updates2

ROK-GHANA Global Health Security Webinar Series Launched

Poster of Korea-Ghana KOICA GHSA Project Webinar Series 1

The first ROK-Ghana Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Project Webinar Series—focused on Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP)—was held on 29 October 2025. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), in collaboration with Seoul National University, which serves as the project’s management agency, agreed to hold a regular webinar series on infectious disease preparedness and response. The first webinar marked the important first step toward strengthening knowledge exchange and cooperation in global health security between the two countries. Going forward, the webinar series will be held on a regular biannual basis.

This webinar series is part of KOICA’s ongoing “Ghana Global Health Security Agenda Strengthening Project,” designed to support its performance monitoring and technical assistance. This project is the second phase following the first phase (2018 – 2023). The second phase (2024 -2028) aims to bolster Ghana’s capacity to implement the International Health Regulations (IHR) within the GHSA framework and reinforce national-level infectious disease response capacities. Furthermore, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ghana Health Service, and University of Ghana are involved as key implementing partners, with Seoul National University serving as the project management consultant.

During the webinar, KDCA introduced the role of GHSCO and shared key achievements from its international development cooperation initiatives, highlighting Korea’s experiences in global health collaboration. Furthermore, a session titled “Introduction to the FETP of Korea” provided an overview of Korea’s epidemiological workforce development structure and outcomes. Seoul National University provided an overall progress update on the KOICA GHSA Ghana project, while the University of Ghana—one of the project’s implementing partners—presented achievements of the Ghana FELTP, and ongoing efforts to strengthen Ghana’s national health security system. Through this webinar, participating organizations shared project experiences, outcomes, and challenges while discussing effective strategies to enhance outbreak response capacity.

Presentation slide of Session 2

KDCA and Seoul National University plan to further expand collaboration by establishing additional exchange platforms, including a joint conference. Along with information sharing among stakeholders, it is expected to deepen Korea-Ghana cooperation and contribute to global health security capacity building.