Addis Ababa:Ethiopia has made a strong call for enhanced regional cooperation to bolster preparedness and response capabilities for health emergencies. The country's Health Minister, Dr. Mekdes Daba, highlighted the necessity of sustained investment in emergency medical teams and robust sector coordination during a significant gathering.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Dr. Mekdes underscored Africa's advancements in global emergency response, emphasizing the continent's shift from a recipient of aid to a leader in training, developing solutions, and deploying emergency teams in collaboration with international partners. She noted the critical need for bolstered national capabilities and international cooperation to effectively address increasing emergency challenges.
During the opening of the 7th World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Global Meeting in Addis Ababa, Dr. Mekdes stressed the importance of transitioning from commitments to practical readiness and collective resilience. She highlighted Ethiopia's progress in enhancing its emergency response capacity, including the establishment of the Disaster Medical Assistance Team in 2018, and the training of over 600 professionals.
Dr. Mekdes also recalled Ethiopia's deployment of medical responders to Türkiye following a 2023 earthquake, demonstrating solidarity beyond national borders. Furthermore, she highlighted the achievement of Ethiopia's national Type 1 fixed Emergency Medical Team receiving WHO international classification in September 2026, a first for a civilian EMT in the WHO African Region.
The Health Minister emphasized the ongoing need for continuous training, quality assurance, and reliable deployment arrangements. She stressed that the measure of progress will be the ability to respond effectively to emergencies both within Ethiopia and across the continent. Dr. Mekdes outlined Ethiopia's priorities, including strengthening nationally led EMT programs, integrating common standards into practice, and operationalizing cross-border solidarity.
The 7th WHO EMT Global Meeting has convened government representatives, health professionals, researchers, and humanitarian partners globally to share experiences and enhance emergency medical response capabilities.
