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ABU DHABI/WAM
Abu Dhabi is set to host the region’s first-of-its-kind global event, the sixth World Health Organisation (WHO) Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Global Meeting between November 5 and 7 at the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers hotel.
Organised by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate, in partnership with WHO and supported by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), the pivotal event will bring together over 500 international leaders in emergency management, disaster medicine, humanitarian aid and more, further cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as a vital player in the global healthcare system and leader in emergency medicine.
The three-day EMT Global Meeting will feature high-level strategic discussions, regional meetings, technical sessions, research presentations, workshops and an exhibition on innovation in global health emergency preparedness, response, and resilience.
The EMT Global Meeting will facilitate discussions, training and strategic partnerships among emergency medical professionals and organisations from around the world. All partners will collaborate to advance the WHO’s EMT 2030 strategy, focused on strengthening national, regional and global capacities for surge responses to health emergencies. Key focus areas will include advancing global emergency response systems, deploying rapid response strategies and enhancing skills of EMTs to ensure efficient and life-saving interventions in time of need.
In the presence of high-profile government and business leaders from across the emirate’s healthcare sector as well as esteemed representatives from the WHO including Dr Mike Ryan, Deputy General of WHO, the opening ceremony will include a welcome speech by Dr Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH. The opening will be followed by the clarification award ceremony, which will recognise 12 EMTs for their compliance to the Emergency Medical Teams 2021 classification and minimum standards, and a strategic discussion on climate change and health emergencies featuring Dr Amal Mubarak Madhi, Director of the Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Department at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) as one of the panellists. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to visit the EMT exhibition, where 12 healthcare entities will showcase their latest advancements in emergency preparedness and response.
DoH has established four specialised emergency medical teams in Abu Dhabi to lead operations in areas such as mental health hotline support, sterilisation, handling hazardous materials, infectious diseases, and trauma injuries. This is a great demonstration of the DoH’s commitment to advancing a globally leading, intelligent healthcare system that is built on resilience and innovation.
Emergency Medical Teams are organised groups of health professionals that provide essential, life-saving care to people and communities affected by disasters, disease outbreaks, armed conflicts, and other health emergencies. EMTs are crucial in delivering timely and quality healthcare during emergencies and in strengthening the capacity of national healthcare systems to lead and coordinate responses.
The EMT Global Meetings have been hosted across five countries over the years, creating a growing global network with increasing reach and impact. Significantly, this will be the first EMT Global Meeting to be held in this region (the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region). The last Global Meeting in Yerevan in 2023 marked the launch of the landmark EMT 2030 Strategy. This Global Meeting will seek to advance this Strategy to address the issues of climate change and health emergencies.