The Ministry of Health and Prevention held a workshop for the emergency medical teams (EMTs) at the Ministry’s Training and Development Center in Sharjah. Conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) regional office, the workshop was attended by H.E. Dr. Salem Al Darmaki, Advisor to the UAE Minister of Health and Prevention; Dr. Abdul Karim Abdullah Al Zarouni, Director of the Ministry’s Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Operations Center; and Nelson Olim from World Health Organization.
The workshop focused on the globally recognized emergency medical guidelines, standards, and protocols to build the participants’ capabilities and reinforce the country’s response to emergency situations. The workshop not only tackled quick response to various emergency scenarios, crises, and disasters but it also dealt with the global best practices in terms of information dissemination to the media, coordination, and data exchange among concerned groups.
H.E. Dr. Al Darmaki said the UAE has made major strides in reinforcing its emergency, crisis, and disaster management programs patterned after the best international practices. The two main organizations that are tasked to respond to emergencies situations in the country are the Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Operations Center and the UAE's National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority.
Dr. Al Zarouni said the workshop was designed to strengthen coordination and ensure preparedness of all concerned authorities; fortify field response operations; and organize emergency response protocols. The attendees emphasized the significance of gathering and analyzing data from the field to assess damage, implement necessary interventions, and disseminate information timely through the media. For its world-class processes and procedures, the Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Operations Center was awarded the International Organization for Standardization 9001: Quality Management System certification.