MENA Newswire News Desk: The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) is gearing up to host the sixth World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Global Meeting, scheduled from November 5 to 7, 2024. This event will bring together global leaders, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and experts in health emergency preparedness to share knowledge, review recent crises, and promote collaboration on the EMT 2030 Strategy. This initiative focuses on strengthening national and global capacity for emergency health responses.
The event will reinforce Abu Dhabi’s role as a global healthcare hub, welcoming humanitarian organizations and healthcare bodies from over 110 countries. Delegates will discuss ways to enhance systems for health emergency preparedness and resilience. The meeting will also highlight cutting-edge research and innovative solutions in emergency medical response, aiming to bolster the ability of healthcare systems to handle crises at national, regional, and international levels.
Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) are organized groups of healthcare professionals deployed to provide life-saving care during disasters, disease outbreaks, and conflicts. EMTs play a critical role in delivering timely healthcare and strengthening national healthcare systems’ emergency response capabilities. One of the key objectives of the meeting is to advance the EMT 2030 Strategy, focusing on building robust emergency response systems globally.
The three-day event will feature high-level discussions, regional meetings, technical sessions, research presentations, workshops, and exhibitions. These will showcase the latest innovations and strategies for global health emergency preparedness and response. It will also provide a platform to promote collaboration between key stakeholders in the field of emergency medical response.
Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, commented: “The EMT Global Meeting is vital for ensuring that healthcare systems worldwide are prepared for emergencies. Abu Dhabi’s role in hosting this prestigious event underscores the city’s growing reputation as a hub for global healthcare leaders. We look forward to sharing our knowledge and collaborating with international partners to advance the EMT Initiative.”
She further highlighted the Department of Health’s commitment to addressing emerging health challenges through the deployment of new technologies, workforce training, and anticipatory planning. “We are eager to share our achievements and learn from others to enhance our capabilities in emergency medical response,” Al Ghaithi added.
Abu Dhabi has made significant strides in building health emergency infrastructure capable of responding to crises like disease outbreaks and natural disasters. The Department of Health has established four specialized EMTs in the emirate, focusing on areas such as mental health, sterilization, handling hazardous materials, infectious diseases, and trauma care. These initiatives underscore Abu Dhabi’s leadership in health emergency preparedness.
Dr. Nedret Emiroglu, Director of the WHO’s Country Readiness Strengthening Department, remarked: “The EMT Global Meeting is a critical platform for the ever-growing global network of EMTs and partners, aimed at strengthening emergency response capacity. As the frequency and intensity of health emergencies increase, bolstering EMTs is essential.”
This marks the first EMT Global Meeting to be held in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, emphasizing the region’s growing importance in global health initiatives. The 2023 meeting in Yerevan launched the EMT 2030 Strategy, and the Abu Dhabi event will seek to build on that momentum, with a particular focus on addressing health emergencies linked to climate change.