Uganda has taken a major step in strengthening outbreak preparedness and response through the successful development of an eLearning course on the 7-1-7 framework, a key tool for improving the timeliness of outbreak detection, notification, and response within a One Health approach.
With funding from Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) through KOFIH Global Alumni (KGA) Grant, Ms. Patricia Eyu from the Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH), Ministry of Health (MoH), led the development of this innovative course in close collaboration with One Health stakeholders in the country. The project responded to national priorities to enhance outbreak preparedness while reducing the high costs and disruptions associated with face to face trainings.
The eLearning approach was deliberately chosen to address key system challenges. For example, physical training often removes critical staff from duty stations and strain limited resources. In contrast, the online course allows health professionals to learn at their own pace, revisit content as needed, and apply the 7-1-7 framework directly within their work settings. By hosting the course on the MoH eLearning platform, the project ensured national ownership, sustainability, and accessibility for in-service personnel across all levels of the health system.
The course targets a broad, multidisciplinary audience, including public health, animal health and environmental health professionals, epidemiologists, clinicians, laboratory staff, veterinarians, and health partners. This diversity reflects the One Health nature of the 7-1-7 framework and strengthens collaboration across human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
Content development was led by a multidisciplinary technical team with experience in 7-1-7 implementation. Materials were developed from the 7-1-7 toolkit, WHO guidance documents, outbreak investigation reports, and real field disease outbreak response. To ensure quality and relevance, the content underwent rigorous review by communication specialists, One Health experts, surveillance stakeholders, and eLearning professionals. This collaborative process resulted in a course that is technically sound, user-friendly, and tailored to adult learners.
Despite challenges such as platform limitations and delays due to competing stakeholder commitments, the project achieved significant milestones. The course was successfully uploaded and disseminated to key stakeholders. Its impact and innovation were further recognized when the project received the Outstanding Global KGA Award 2024, highlighting its contribution to global health capacity building.
Looking ahead, the course provides a sustainable foundation for strengthening outbreak preparedness and response in Uganda. Planned monitoring and evaluation will assess learner engagement, knowledge gains, and improvements in outbreak response using the national 7-1-7 dashboard.
This initiative demonstrates how strategic partnerships, digital innovation, and a One Health approach can deliver cost effective, scalable solutions that strengthen national health security and protect communities from public health threats.