January 13, 2026 (Majuro, RMI) –From November 10–12, 2025, the Pacific Island Health Officers Association (PIHOA) Secretariat conducted a Dengue Outbreak Readiness Workshop in Majuro, in close coordination with the Republic of the Marshall Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services (MOHHS).
The three-day workshop strengthened the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ preparedness to detect, respond to, and prevent dengue outbreaks through the development of a country-specific Early Warning System (EWS), updated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and enhanced operational response planning. The training emphasized early detection, timely response, and coordinated action to reduce the risk and impact of dengue outbreaks.
Workshop Highlights
Key outcomes from the workshop included:
Hands-on training for 16 frontline health workers, all from the outer islands
Establishment of epidemiological and entomological alert thresholds to guide early response actions
Review and update of 17 SOPs to strengthen mosquito surveillance, vector control operations, risk communication, community engagement, and data reporting
Strengthened intersectoral coordination to support early action and rapid outbreak response
All participants returned to their respective outer-island communities following the training, ensuring that local health systems are better equipped with skilled personnel capable of implementing dengue detection, prevention, and response measures at the community level.
By building capacity at both national and community levels, this workshop supports RMI’s ability to act before outbreaks escalate, protecting public health and strengthening health security across the islands.
🔗 Read the full E-Blast here: PIHOA E-Blast: RMI Prepares for a Dengue Outbreak Before it Strikes