Strengthening COVID-19 response as part of the Health Operations pillar in the Incident Management Supporting Team (IMST). The unit has been involved in strategic pillar 5 (laboratories and diagnostic) of the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) that entailed strengthening laboratory capacity in the region, including operationalization of regional strategy for genome sequence strengthening. In addition, the unit has been involved in multiple response activities under strategic pillar 6 (Infection prevention and control) and strategic pillar 7 (Case management, clinical operations, and therapeutics) within SPRP.