The UK Public Health Rapid Support Team Infection Prevention and Control (UKPHRST IPC) team took home the Team of the Year Award 2026 at this year’s IPS Impact Awards.
Presented at IP2026, the team was recognised for its work strengthening infection prevention and control (IPC) capacity in Somalia, working alongside the Somali Federal Ministry of Health, WHO and national stakeholders to develop practical, sustainable IPC guidance and implementation plans.
Building IPC capacity together
Healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance present significant challenges within Somalia’s health system. While national IPC programmes are developing, there was no standardised set of operational procedures (SOP) that could be consistently implemented across healthcare settings.
The UKPHRST IPC team worked collaboratively to develop 16 evidence-based IPC SOPs covering areas including standard infection control precautions, transmission-based precautions, outbreak management, multidrug-resistant organisms and antimicrobial resistance.
Crucially, the team focused on local ownership. Rather than imposing guidance that might not be practical in the local context, they gathered feedback from frontline healthcare workers and partners through a national survey and facilitated a three-day consensus workshop in Mogadishu.
The survey achieved an 88% response rate, with more than 84% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that the SOPs were relevant.
The process also identified significant implementation challenges, including shortages of PPE, water, isolation facilities and appropriately trained IPC staff.
Turning evidence into practical action
The national workshop brought together government representatives, healthcare workers, technical experts and international partners to review the SOPs and agree practical priorities.
All 16 SOPs were reviewed and agreed to require only minor revisions, while five priority SOPs were identified for early implementation.
The team also helped develop monitoring approaches using WHO-validated methods, including bundle audits and checklists, and identified IPC focal leads and workforce training needs across healthcare facilities.
An implementation roadmap was developed, focusing on achievable actions and recognising the realities of working within a resource-constrained health system.
Creating lasting impact
The project goes beyond developing guidance. The team has helped establish a platform for continued collaboration between the Somali Federal Ministry of Health, WHO and partner organisations.
Through regular engagement, peer learning, national education planning and the development of monitoring systems, the project is helping build sustainable IPC capability within Somalia.
The IPS Team of the Year Award recognises teams that demonstrate the power of collaboration, innovation and shared expertise to improve infection prevention and patient safety.
Huge well done to the UKPHRST IPC team on this well-deserved achievement and for their commitment to strengthening IPC capacity and supporting sustainable improvement.
Anthony Twyman, Senior Infection Prevention and Control specialist lead for the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team said, “This award is a testament to what can be achieved when expertise, collaboration and local leadership come together. Our goal was never simply to develop guidance, but to work with Somali partners to create sustainable improvements in infection prevention and control that will continue to support patient safety and health system resilience for years to come. This award belongs to everyone who contributed to that shared vision.”
The UK Public Health Rapid Support Team is funded by UK aid from the Department of Health and Social Care and is jointly run by UK Health Security Agency and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
