NPHI Stories: Togo’s Institut National d’Hygiène Puts the Staged Development Tool to Use

National public health institutes (NPHIs) can become stronger by using the NPHI staged development tool (SDT) to assess their capacities, identify gaps, and plan for how to move to a higher level of functioning. In September 2016, CDC and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) piloted this tool at Togo’s Institut National d’Hygiène (INH). The team engaged the leadership and staff of INH in three full days of thoughtful and introspective discussions about the institute’s capacities.

The SDT assessed INH’s capacity to plan, develop staff, provide laboratory services, conduct surveillance, and investigate acute public health events. CDC’s team also worked with INH leadership and staff to discuss the institute’s challenges, as well as to develop strategies and set priorities.

“We spent three days in an intense and passionate process that made us think and thoroughly explore our capacity. The SDT tool was of great use to us and we were delighted to have participated,” says Deputy Director of INH Dr. Kossi Badziklou.

Moving forward, INH can return to the tool to improve the institute’s ability to protect the health of the people of Togo, and increase global health security.