Strengthening Global Health Through Leadership Collaboration in the UK

By Leanne Devine , Senior Healthcare Laboratory Scientist at UKHSA

Last month the International Health Regulations Strengthening Project held a week-long leadership development workshop in the UK, bringing together public health leaders from Nigeria, Zambia, and The Gambia. It involved a series of intensive learning sessions, laboratory tours, and collaborative discussions aimed at strengthening global laboratory systems and public health response.

The week began with a look at the UK's laboratory landscape at UKHSA’s Colindale laboratory. Delegates toured the national reference laboratories including the Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit (GBRU), the Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, the Zoonoses and Respiratory (ZARS) division, and the Diphtheria laboratory. These visits provided first-hand insights into the UK's diagnostic and surveillance capabilities, and the critical role of reference laboratories in early detection and outbreak response.

One of the highlights of the week was a hands-on behavioural science workshop, an area that is becoming increasingly important in public health work. The session looked at the key principles of behavioural science and how they can be used in real-world settings. A big takeaway was the need to understand local contexts and what really drives people’s behaviour when it comes to designing and implementing effective interventions. These ideas carried through into a workforce development workshop later in the week, encouraging people to reflect on their own strategies, visions, and leadership styles.

A day trip to the regional UKHSA laboratory in Cambridge highlighted the importance of laboratory leadership and governance, particularly in the context of laboratory accreditation. The team observed quality management systems in action and learned how leadership at the local level is vital to maintaining standards and fostering continuous improvement.

This exchange underscored the power of cross-country collaboration and mutual learning in tackling shared public health challenges. By building connections and sharing expertise, the delegates and their UK counterparts are contributing to a more resilient, informed, and prepared global health community. At UKHSA, we act internationally to strengthen global health security, which in turn helps to protect the health of the UK’s population and improve health inequalities.

The International Health Regulations Strengthening Project (IHR-SP), funded with UK aid by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) provides peer to peer technical expertise through the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to support public health partners to prepare, prevent, detect and respond to global health threats and increase compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).