GOARN marks 25 years of advancing global health emergency preparedness and response

“GOARN is a vital part of the global health architecture,” said Dr
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Through the network,
countries get the expert support they need to respond to health
emergencies, and to enhance their own capacities for preparedness and
response. This means faster, more effective responses and more lives
saved.”

GOARN was created in response to the need for better
coordination during global health emergencies. While many partner
organizations were sending teams to assist during emergencies, there was
a lack of coordination which hindered the overall effectiveness of
these responses. It was also clear that no single institution could
address all components of a response alone. GOARN was thus born
following an international meeting organized by WHO in Geneva on 26–28
April 2000. Some 121 representatives from 67 partner institutions
discussed the growing challenge of epidemic-prone and emerging diseases,
and the urgent need to build a global network based on existing
partnerships to address these threats.

In October 2000, GOARN
played a key role in responding to the major Ebola outbreak in Gulu,
Uganda – marking a significant milestone in what would evolve into a
quarter-century of pivotal global health responses.

“As one of the
first responders deployed during the Ebola outbreak in Uganda 25 years
ago, I witnessed firsthand the evolution of our response efforts and
GOARN’s role,” said Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health
Emergencies Programme and Deputy Director-General of WHO.  “When I
returned to Uganda earlier this year for another Ebola response, I was
immensely proud to see how strong the national capacities have become,
led by the Ministry of Health with the support of WHO and GOARN
partners. GOARN is an example of how multilateralism works to save
lives. To this day, I wear the orange GOARN lanyard alongside my blue
WHO one to show my respect for and pride in this network.”

GOARN
leverages the expertise of its partner institutions to address global
health challenges. Operating as a unified international community, the
network has responded swiftly and effectively to public health threats
by deploying technical experts to ensure the right expertise is in the
right place at the right time. GOARN’s goal is to strengthen countries’
capacities and help build strong, resilient systems for response to
emergencies.

GOARN ensures that the experts are well-trained and
equipped with the right skills before they’re deployed where they are
needed most, fostering seamless collaboration for swift, coordinated,
and impactful responses.

GOARN has now grown into a network of
over 310 institutions, including national public health agencies,
nongovernmental organizations, UN agencies, academic, and other
technical organizations. GOARN has responded to over 175 public health
emergencies in 114 countries, deploying more than 3645 international
responders who integrate within national responses, collaborating with
thousands of national professionals to strengthen and enhance local
efforts. The network has tackled major global public health events,
including outbreaks of SARS, Ebola virus disease, Marburg virus disease,
COVID-19, mpox, cholera, yellow fever, disasters such as floods and
earthquakes, and war. GOARN has deployed expertise in epidemiology,
disease surveillance, case management, clinical care, infection
prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, and
others. These efforts have also delivered hands-on training to hundreds
of national teams, bolstering their immediate response capacity and
long-term resilience.

“Looking back over the past 25 years, it’s
remarkable to see how GOARN has evolved from a visionary concept to an
indispensable network in the global health emergency landscape,” said
Ray R. Arthur, PhD, Director, Global Disease Detection Operations
Center, CDC (retired) and Former Chair of the GOARN Steering Committee.
“As an early participant in establishing the network and as former chair
of the Steering Committee, I witnessed firsthand the commitment and
collaboration that drove the network’s success. GOARN has not only
facilitated rapid response to public health emergencies but has also
been instrumental in strengthening global health, ensuring that
countries are better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. It’s an
honour to see the network continue to grow and play such a vital role in
protecting public health worldwide.”

Today, GOARN is a vital pillar in the Global Health Emergency Corps ensuring a well-coordinated health emergency workforce, centered in
countries and connected regionally and globally. The 25-year milestone
marks a significant evolution of GOARN’s role in preparedness and
response. Rather than deploying large numbers of international
professionals across every field, GOARN now brings in only the necessary
expertise to address critical gaps on the ground. Paired with the focus
on capacity strengthening and training initiates, GOARN has
demonstrated the effectiveness of its mandate and efforts empowering
countries to manage emergencies themselves.

GOARN calls on all
Member States, partners and the global community to continue working
together to build a global health emergency architecture that is
resilient, equitable, and capable of addressing future health
challenges.

Voices from GOARN, past and present

Dr
Mohannad Al-Nsour, Executive Director, Eastern Mediterranean Public
Health Network (EMPHNET), current Chair of the GOARN Steering Committee:

“As
the world faces the growing threats of epidemics, conflict, and
humanitarian crises, GOARN’s role has never been more vital. The network
is being called to respond in increasingly complex environments – where
conflict is more widespread, and public health emergencies unfold
alongside deep humanitarian challenges. GOARN must continue to evolve,
expanding its reach and strengthening collaboration to meet these urgent
needs.”

Daniela Garone, Infectious Diseases Specialist
and International Medical Coordinator, Médecins Sans Frontières, current
Co-Deputy Chairs of the GOARN Steering Committee and Dr Edmund Newman, Director, UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST):

“Reflecting
on GOARN’s 25 years of advancing global health emergency preparedness
and response, we are proud to be active partners of a network that has
been instrumental in saving lives and strengthening health response
systems around the world. From its humble beginnings to its current role
as a vital pillar in global health response, GOARN has demonstrated the
power of collaboration and expertise in tackling public health
emergencies. As we look to the future, we remain committed to supporting
countries in building resilient public health systems and ensuring that
our collective efforts continue to evolve in response to the growing
challenges of global health. Together, we will continue to foster
stronger partnerships and be ready for whatever comes next.”

Myriam Henkens MD, MPH, Senior Health Adviser, Médecins Sans Frontières, former member of GOARN Steering Committee:

“For
25 years, GOARN has been a cornerstone in the global response to health
emergencies. As a proud participant, MSF has been working alongside
GOARN to strengthen health systems and ensure a more effective global
response to the challenges of tomorrow. The collaborative spirit and
shared expertise across the network have made a real difference in the
field, and I’m proud to have been part of this journey.”

Gail
Carson, Director of Network Development at ISARIC Pandemic Sciences
Institute, University of Oxford and former Chair of the GOARN Steering
Committee (2022–2024):

“Serving as Chair of the GOARN
Steering Committee from 2022 to 2024 was one of the greatest honours of
my career. But my connection to this network goes back much further—to
GOARN’s first response to Ebola in Uganda. Over the past 25 years, I’ve
seen firsthand how this global community of experts supports countries
in times of crisis, delivering trusted, timely, and lifesaving technical
assistance. Today, GOARN continues to evolve to meet new and complex
challenges. What hasn’t changed is its core strength: GOARN remains the
partner you can count on when a health emergency hits.”

John S Mackenzie, Emeritus Professor and former Chair of the GOARN Steering Committee:

“GOARN
was born from a visionary belief that global outbreak response could be
stronger through coordinated action. I was proud to serve on its first
Steering Committee, and those 14 years remain among the most fulfilling
of my career. GOARN continues to grow as a powerful force in global
public health – driven by collaboration, expertise, and an enduring
spirit of service.”

Pat Drury, former GOARN Manager:

“GOARN
has been more than just a professional milestone—it has been a journey
of saving lives and making a real difference in the face of some of the
world’s most challenging outbreaks, from Ebola, and SARS to COVID-19.
The network’s strength is its ability to connect people, and
institutions, knowledge and expertise in real time, turning alerts into
rapid responses. As the challenges have grown, so have the stakes. In an
increasingly polarised world, GOARN’s role in mobilizing science, and
fostering trust has never been more vital. Congratulations on 25 years
of extraordinary impact, and thank you to the countless individuals who
make this mission possible.”

Source: WHO