Strengthening event-based surveillance in Morocco

Update

Rabat, 25 September 2025 - The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, together with Morocco’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network concluded a three-day training in Rabat to strengthen the country’s event-based surveillance capacities.

The workshop was implemented under the EU Initiative on Health Security, which supports partner countries to build resilient public health systems and tackle cross-border health threats. 

The training brought together 60 attendees from the following five regions in Morocco: Souss-Massa, Drâa-Tafilalet, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra and Dakhla-Oued Eddahab. Participants included health professionals, surveillance officers from the Ministry of Health, and representatives from the Ministry of Interior and the National Food Safety Office (ONSSA). 

Participants enhanced their skills and roles in relation to event-based surveillance through a mix of presentations, group exercises, and case simulations and applied event-based surveillance processes in context-specific scenarios. 

The discussions also focused on strengthening coordination between key partners, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior and ONSSA. All involved partners agreed on the importance of regional and multi-sectoral cooperation in order to implement event-based surveillance following a One Health approach.