The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH) will host the sixth World Health Organization Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Global Meeting from 5 to 7 November 2024, at the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers hotel.
The event will gather prominent leaders, policymakers, experts and healthcare professionals in the field of health emergency preparedness and response. Participants will share knowledge, review recent emergencies and responses, and take collective action to advance the EMT 2030 strategy, particularly in strengthening national, regional and global capacities for surge responses to health emergencies.
As the host city, Abu Dhabi will welcome global healthcare bodies and humanitarian organisations from more than 110 countries to share knowledge and foster dialogue on the critical and pressing issue of strengthening capabilities and systems for global health emergency preparedness, resilience and response. The event will also serve as a platform to showcase the latest research and innovations for EMT and other surge response capacities, enabling rapid and effective responses to health emergencies at local, regional and global levels.
EMT are organised groups of health professionals that aim to provide essential, life-saving care to people and communities affected by disasters, disease outbreaks, armed conflicts, and other health emergencies. EMT aim to deliver timely and quality healthcare during emergencies and strengthen the capacity of national healthcare systems to lead and coordinate responses. A key priority of the upcoming EMT Global Meeting is to advance the EMT 2030 Strategy.
The three-day event will include high-level strategic discussions, regional meetings, technical sessions, research presentations, workshops and an exhibition showcasing EMT and partner innovations for global health emergency preparedness, response, and resilience.
Her Excellency Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, said: “The EMT Global Meeting is a crucial fixture on the global health agenda, ensuring that healthcare systems worldwide are prepared for emergencies. Abu Dhabi’s hosting of the sixth instalment of this important event is a testament to its status as a hub for prominent global health leaders and practitioners, with the common goal of exchanging knowledge and expertise. The event showcases Abu Dhabi as a pioneer in emergency preparedness and response. We are committed to convening with all partners in the global healthcare community to advance the agenda of promoting EMTs and the EMT Initiative globally.
“The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has been proactively addressing emerging emergencies by constantly deploying breakthrough technologies, upskilling the workforce, and anticipating rising challenges. We look forward to sharing our experiences and learning from others on how we can continue to enhance our emergency medicine capabilities.”
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.
Dr Nedret Emiroglu, Director of Country Readiness Strengthening Department at the World Health Organization Health Emergencies Programme, said: “The EMT Global Meeting is the peak gathering for the ever-expanding global EMT network and partners providing the platform for collectively acting towards stronger workforce and surge capacities for a world better prepared to respond to emergencies. With the increasing frequency, complexity, and intensity of public health emergencies, including climate-related ones, strengthening EMTs and other surge capacities has become even more critical. This global meeting in Abu Dhabi marks the first in the region and will be a unique opportunity to highlight innovation, strategies and the collaborative steps needed to see to fruition the goal and objectives of the EMT 2030 Strategy.”
The EMT global meetings have been hosted across five countries, creating a growing global network with increasing reach and impact. This will be the first EMT Global Meeting to be held in the region. The last global meeting in Yerevan in 2023 marked the launch of the EMT 2030 Strategy. The meeting will seek to advance this strategy to address the issues of climate change and health emergencies.
