Accra:According to Qatar News Agency, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has conducted a pilot foundation course focusing on Public Health Emergency Management. This initiative is part of the National Training Plan and involved 72 participants from various sectors engaged in public health emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.

The course’s primary goal was to enhance national capacities and readiness by fostering a shared understanding of public health emergency management principles. It addressed key topics such as preparedness and response, emergency operations management, multisectoral coordination, risk assessment, and frameworks both national and international. Additionally, risk communication and community engagement were significant components of the training.

Dr. Soha Al Bayat, Director of the Health Emergency Department at MOPH, stated that the course was developed in response to the 2024 multisectoral training needs assessment and the 2025 National Health Emergency Management Training Plan Development Workshop. These assessments highlighted the necessity for a cohesive national training program to bolster national capacity and improve coordination among stakeholders.

Dr. Al Bayat praised the high engagement and active participation throughout the course. She emphasized that the pilot phase’s outcomes and lessons learned would be instrumental in refining and endorsing the training curriculum before its broader national implementation.

By aligning with international standards and best practices, the course contributes to national efforts to establish a sustainable public health emergency preparedness and response system.