Within the framework of the Global Heath Security Agenda and with support from the Ministries of Health of Benin and Togo, a grant was awarded in 2015 to the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organization (ALCO) by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with the view of strengthening the capacity of Benin and Togo Points of Entry.
This grant is implemented in eight points of entry in these two countries: Cotonou airport, the seaport of Cotonou, land borders of Kraké and Hillacondji in Benin, in Togo, the airport and the seaport of Lomé, as well as land borders of Sanvee Condji and Kodjoviakopé.
From October 2015 to September 2020, ALCO in collaboration with the Ministry of Health implemented several activities. The following key activities were carried out.
Objective 1: Build capacity of points of entry (PoE) (airport, seaport and major land borders) to prevent, detect, and respond to communicable disease threats
– Assessment of the capacity to respond to health emergencies at the Points of Entry of international Airport Cardinal Bernadin Gantin of Cotonou, Port of Cotonou, Krake (Benin and Nigeria land border), Hillacondji (Benin and Togo land border) in Benin; Gnassingbe Eyadema Airport of Lome, Port of Lome, Sanveecondji (Benin and Togo land border, Kodjoviakope (Togo and Ghana border)
– Development/review of the emergency plan covering Points of Entry of member countries of the corridor on the basis of basic assessment results
– Equipment of Points of Entry posts with individual protection equipment, gloves, sodium nitrite, liquid soap, body bag, mask to cover nose, safety boot, ethanol, hydro alcoholic gel, etc.
– Training of 229 health and community workers of the Points of Entry areas on response to epidemic emergencies
– Training of 60 health/community workers on waste management at Points of Entry

– Organization of 2 tabletop and functional exercises (biannually) for epidemic emergency response.

Objective 2: Strengthen surveillance in border regions and along migration pathways in Togo and Benin along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor
– Organization of Population Connectivity Across Border (PopCab) activities, to identify geographic areas and subpopulations at high risk of transmission in order to support outbreak responses
– Development of SoP of integrated community epidemiological surveillance
– Training of community mobilizers (Traditional healers, health workers, mortuary managers and veterinarians, etc ) at the borders on epidemiological surveillance
– Training of transport companies staff on epidemiological surveillance of travelers
– Production and dissemination of tools for data collection surveillance at Points of Entry posts
– Provision of yearly telephone fleet networking for border epidemiological monitoring stakeholders
– Development of a communication plan on the prevention of epidemics including Ebola Viral Disease and the environmental sanitation measures
– Development and production of message dissemination tools (posters, brochures, picture boxes etc) of BCC materials for creating awareness at Points of Entry
– Advocacy missions for the better involvement of the national/local authorities in the epidemiological surveillance at PoE.

Objective 3: Support bi-national and regional communications and coordination to prevent, detect and respond to communicable diseases threats
– Organization of three annual regional meeting for information and experience exchange on the IDSR and the implementation of the 2005 IHR between Togo, Benin and their neighboring countries (advocacy for the signature of MoU)
– Organization of four cross border meetings
– Development of cross-border information exchange SOP to build upon IDSR