New Dubai centre to manage community health challenges
DISASTER AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT OFFICE TO BOOST EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Dubai has formed a Disaster and Crisis Management Office in a radical transformation of the health security system, Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced yesterday.
The centre is responsible for developing and managing Dubai’s emergency, crisis and disaster system to support community health security.
The DHA announcement came at the International Conference and Exhibition for Relief and Development (DIHAD) at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Dr Khalid Abdullah Lootah, Public Health Consultant and Head of the Disaster Management Office, pointed out that the Office’s operations and control centre is equipped with advanced systems for disaster and crisis management.
Dubai Disaster and Crisis Medicine Programme
DHA began implementing the Dubai Disaster and Crisis Medicine Programme two months ago to raise the level of health preparedness in Dubai through a unified and internationally approved approach.
The programme is accredited by the European Centre for Disaster Medicine and the American College of Surgeons.
Over the next five years, thre programme will enhance the skills of 10,000 government and private hospital leaders, medical, technical support, and nursing staff in Dubai.
This comprehensive training will equip them to effectively respond to disasters, crises, and emergencies, significantly strengthening the health sector’s resilience and preparedness.
Responsibilities
Dr Lootah explained that there are a group of specialisations and responsibilities that the Office undertakes to implement including enhancing Dubai’s position and ranking it among the global indicators of preparedness, developing and managing the system of health emergencies, crises and disasters, and raising the level of the health sector’s preparedness towards catastrophes and crises, in addition to preparing and implementing preventive and proactive strategies and plans to address disasters and emergencies, train and qualify human cadres specialised in the field, and prepare scientific research and forecasting studies for the future.
He said that the DHA’s participation in DIHAD represents a significant opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the health sector in Dubai and its high-level capabilities in disasters, crises and emergencies.
It is also an opportunity to build strategic partnerships and strengthen its relationships with various global health centres and institutions that specialise in this field and learn about the latest developments regarding technologies, intelligent solutions, methods, and protocols for responding to disasters and crises.