EFFO-CoE: A Center of Excellence for Rwanda
Project summary
EFFO - Center Of Excellence Project Summary
- Name: EFFO-COE (Center Of Excellence)
- Focus: Construction of a high-level isolation unit to accommodate High-Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) patients AND the provision of training programs in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali
- Implementation period: 15 November 2021 until 14 November 2024
- Funding volume: 4.9 million Euros
- Financed by: German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) within the framework of the Global Health Protection Programm (GHPP)
- Partners: Robert Koch Institute - Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) - Institute of Construction Design, Industrial and Health Care Building of the Technische Universität Braunschweig (IKE-TUBS) - Institute of International Health and Speciality network: Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine (Charite University Hospital Berlin) - Medmissio Institute for Global Health
Logos of the EFFO-COE project partners (© EFFO)
The initial situation
Since 2014 the EFFO project has conducted several training activities on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in relation to High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCIDs) to prevent the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
In 2014 the largest ever recorded outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) took place in West Africa, costing the lives of 11,325 persons according to the World Health Organization (WHO). At that time, nearly 4% of all EVD patients were healthcare workers which undermined the public health system in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - the countries with the highest infection rates. The EFFO project therefore conducted several training activities on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) related to High-Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCIDs) to prevent the spread of EVD to other African countries. We conducted additional workshops in Senegal, Mali, Sudan and Burkina Faso. This made us realize that efficient and sustainable training of health care workers, appropriate infrastructure and practical learning experiences are essential to face similar future situations in Africa. We started conducting simulation exercises in hospitals in Rwanda in 2018, followed by a refresher course in 2019.
Several previous experiences with african partners builded the acceptance needed for a project like EFFO-COE (© EFFO)
Why Rwanda
Rwanda is a neighboring country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the latter being a country with more than twelve recorded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks in the last four decades and hence prone to EVD resurgence (WHO: Ebola virus disease - Democratic Republic of the Congo). In order to prevent the spread of EVD in the future, EFFO carried out several projects on Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) related to High-Consequences Infectious Diseases (HCIDs) in Rwanda:
- EFFO I - Traning courses on Ebola Virus Disease in Rwanda (2018-2019)
- EFFO - HCF Health Care Facilities for Rwanda (2019-2020)
- Project SicoR (2020-2021)
The EFFO - Center Of Excellence (EFFO-COE) is the continuation of this joint work experience between German and Rwandan health authorities and medical workers.
Date: 06.05.2024
