In February 2017, a Lassa fever outbreak in Benin took the lives of two people but was rapidly contained and managed by the Ministry of Health and its partners. In order to identify lessons and find solutions for challenges encountered during this event, the Ministry of Health organized an After Action Review (AAR) 13-14 July in Gran Popo. The objectives of the AAR were to identify concrete actions to strengthen capacities for preparedness, detection and response to public health emergencies.

The AAR covered the following functions of the response: surveillance, laboratory, coordination, case management, infection prevention and control and logistics; and involved technical staff, who were involved managing the outbreak, from the Ministry of Health, academia, civil protection, media, the Red Cross, USAID and WHO.

The principle findings of the AAR to ensure to inclusion of communication specialists and psychologists  in the rapid response teams and crisis management structure; improve the implication of the private sector in national surveillance; and to establish and operationalize interoperable coordination structures at all levels from district, departmental and national.