Strengthening national and subnational capacity for dengue preparedness through EWARS

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a national and subnational training to introduce the use of the Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS) to improve preparedness and response to climate-sensitive disease outbreaks, with a primary focus on dengue.

The training brought together officials from central and provincial levels, including teams responsible for disease surveillance, planning and outbreak response. It aimed to build practical skills in interpreting climate-informed disease forecasts and translating early warnings into timely, coordinated public health action.

EWARS is a digital early warning system that integrates routine disease surveillance data with climate and environmental information to forecast potential disease outbreaks before they occur. In Lao PDR, EWARS focuses on dengue and other climate-sensitive diseases, supporting the health sector to anticipate risks and act earlier to protect communities.

“Climate change is already affecting disease transmission patterns, seasonality and geographic spread,” said Dr Viengmany Bounkham, Director General of Department of Planning and Finance, Ministry of Health. “By introducing EWARS, we are improving our ability to plan ahead, allocate resources more effectively and reduce the impact of outbreaks on our health system.”

The training emphasized action-oriented use of data, moving beyond analysis to systematic decision-making. Participants practiced using EWARS outputs to trigger predefined response actions, including vector control, health facility readiness, laboratory preparedness and risk communication. EWARS complements existing national surveillance systems and does not replace them; instead, it strengthens their effectiveness by adding a predictive, climate-informed layer.

“EWARS can help inform us potential risks early,” said Dr Viengsavanh Kittiphong, Deputy Director General of Department of Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health. “Early warning can support health authorities at all levels in considering possible risks before cases surge, which can in turn reduce illness, prevent deaths, and ease pressure on health services.”

Once fully operational, EWARS disease forecasts will be generated regularly and shared with national and subnational health teams. The system is integrated into existing national platforms, including the DHIS2-based Health Management Information System, ensuring sustainability and alignment with national digital health strategies.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen climate-resilient health systems in Lao PDR. It is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Health, WHO and Save the Children, with financial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The work builds on earlier efforts from the piloted climate-informed EWARS under the UNDP-GEF project Building Resilience of Health Systems in Asian Least Developed Countries to Climate Change.

 “By investing in EWARS and building capacity at different levels, the country is strengthening its ability to use data to better understand and prepare for climate-related health risks, contributing to longer-term resilience of the health system,” said WHO’s Health Information System Lead Dr Achala Jayatilleke.

Lessons learned from dengue EWARS could help inform considerations for potential application to other climate-sensitive diseases, in line with national priorities on disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and climate change adaptation. Through continued collaboration and investment, Lao PDR is strengthening its ability to protect health in a changing climate.