Let me present to you OpenWHO, which is WHO’s new, interactive, web-based platform that offers online courses to people preparing to work in epidemics, pandemics and health emergencies or already doing so. You can check it out here!
OpenWHO is managed by WHO’s Department for Infectious Hazards Management, in Geneva, Switzerland. Offline versions are available on both IOS and Android devices. The platform can host an unlimited number of users and is free and open to anyone wishing to register.
Users take part in a worldwide, social learning network that is based on interactive, online courses and materials covering a variety of subjects. OpenWHO also serves as a forum for the fast sharing of public health expertise and in-depth discussion and feedback on key issues.
OpenWHO has three main channels:
- Outbreak focuses on diseases that are epidemic or pandemic-prone such as Ebola, yellow fever and pandemic influenza.
- GetSocial! covers social science interventions such as risk communication, community engagement and social mobilization.
- Ready For Response offers courses on WHO’s emergency response framework, Incident Management System and pre-deployment trainings for people who might be sent to countries for emergency response.
There are currently 10 online courses available (with 7 more announced), ranging from an Introduction to MERS to Public health interventions in the pandemics and epidemics. While I’ve not had time to take any of these courses, I’m looking forward to doing so.
In the meantime, this looks to be an informative, and potentially invaluable resource, and one which I hope a lot of our members will take advantage of!!