WHO/Europe marked the launch of the WHO European Geospatial Coordination Hub in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 15 November 2023. Its goal is to empower countries in the WHO European Region to effectively utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for faster and more informed public health decisions.
Geospatial technology, in the form of GIS, enables the visualization and analysis of data on a map. Within the health sector, GIS can play a vital role by supporting evidence-based planning and decision-making, aiding in emergency response, and helping to forecast and analyze health trends over time.
For example, GIS technology can help countries identify vulnerable populations or select locations for expansion of health services. GIS can also be used to improve community contact tracing, outreach or routing services, and even model climate-related health risks. The virtual launch event brought together more than 75 participants from 38 countries, including representatives from all three levels of WHO, ministries of health, national centres for disease control and public health institutes, as well as partner organizations.
“At the root of many fundamental health inequalities is geographic location,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, in his opening remarks. He added, “Where you live can predetermine your health outcomes and your access to services such as vaccines, screenings and medicines. In an era marked by conflict, humanitarian crises, displacement and climate change, good data saves lives. Geospatial data and technology are critical to increase access to health care, respond and prepare for health emergencies, and ultimately improve public health.”
Harnessing the power of geodata
The Hub will support and enhance GIS activities, capacities and implementation across the WHO European Region. It will serve as a platform for coordination, collaboration and communication among WHO Member States, technical partners and donors to align efforts in geospatial initiatives for health. Some of its areas of work will include:
- regional GIS roadmap: development of a living roadmap for the European Region, to be based on consultations between WHO and Member States on their GIS needs, capacities, and expectations;
- capacity strengthening: offering in-person and online training programmes, ranging from one-hour webinars to one-year master’s degree programmes tailored to the needs of stakeholders and countries;
- community of practice: facilitating knowledge exchange and networking among GIS experts and users;
- operational research: collaborating with academic institutions and research organizations to conduct operational research and develop best practices, guidelines and resources for GIS applications in public health;
- partnerships: ensuring coordinated support to Member States by engaging with relevant expertise;
- technical assistance: providing comprehensive support to Member States, including needs and capacity assessments, development and implementation of national GIS roadmaps, provision of data, software, tools, production of maps, dashboards and applications, and support for resource mobilization (finances and HR); and
- emergency response: deploying GIS experts to respond effectively to emergencies.
Background
The WHO European Geospatial Coordination Hub in Istanbul is co-led by the WHO European Centre for Preparedness for Humanitarian Health Emergencies and the Data and Digital Health Unit at WHO/Europe, in coordination with the GIS Centre for Health at WHO headquarters. Hub members include GIS specialists from across the WHO European Region.
The Hub supports the strategic priorities of two key regional strategies and action plans: the Regional digital health action plan for the WHO European Region 2023–2030; and the WHO Health Emergencies Preparedness 2.0 action plan for the WHO European Region.
For information, requests, to stay updated or for any inquiries, please contact the WHO European Geospatial Coordination Hub at euroGIS@who.int
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On 05 January 2024, this article was amended to correct the Hub’s contact information