ABU DHABI, UAE – Khalifa University and the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE) have concluded the inaugural Middle East and North Africa (MENA) edition of the Disease Elimination and Eradication Course, strengthening regional collaboration to combat preventable infectious diseases.
The programme combined online learning with in-person training in Abu Dhabi, bringing together participants from ministries of health and agriculture, academic institutions, WHO country offices, and regional partner organizations. PhD students from Khalifa University also joined multidisciplinary teams to support knowledge exchange and capacity building.
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The curriculum covered epidemiology, health systems, disease elimination strategies, behavioural science, One Health, community engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and the application of artificial intelligence in public health.
Her Excellency Dr. Farida Al Hosani, Chief Executive Officer of GLIDE, stated: “Advancing a sustainable global health agenda relies fundamentally on one key pillar: investing in our people. True progress in disease elimination means empowering health leaders on the ground, sharing empirical evidence across borders, and building the capacity required to cross the final mile toward a healthier future. By launching the first MENA iteration of our Disease Elimination and Eradication Course alongside Khalifa University, we are equipping regional public health visionaries with the strategic frameworks and innovative tools, such as applied AI, which is necessary to translate evidence into lasting national policy.”
Professor Habiba Alsafar, Dean, CMHS, said: “Khalifa University is committed to partnerships that extend the reach of academic knowledge into public health practice, and our collaboration with GLIDE is a strong example of that. Hosting the first MENA edition of the Disease Elimination and Eradication Course builds directly on the foundation we established together, bringing regional health professionals and global experts into a shared learning environment to address some of the most pressing infectious disease challenges facing our region today.”
A high-level public seminar, “Advancing Disease Elimination Through AI & Innovation,” showcased AI-powered wastewater surveillance, disease monitoring technologies, and Abu Dhabi’s strategies for arbovirus and dengue response, led by the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC).
According to GLIDE and Khalifa University, the initiative aims to strengthen regional public health leadership, promote cross-sector collaboration, and accelerate progress toward eliminating infectious diseases through innovation, research, and evidence-based policy.
