Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Apr 16, 2019
Open Peer Review Period: Mar 10, 2026 - May 5, 2026
Date Accepted: Jul 13, 2019
(currently open for review)
Rapid Response Teams’ Initiative: Critical Role and Impact on National and Eastern Mediterranean Regional Emergency Management Capacity Building
ABSTRACT
Background:
Rapid response teams (RRT) are essential to contain the harmful effects of emergency situations and to coordinate actions in the fragile environment of the EMR.
Objective:
The Global Health Development (GHD) and Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) implemented RRT to fill the human resources gap and to enable member states to build their capacity in rapid assessment and response to public health events to reduce human suffering. In order to build the capacity of the member states in the field of rapid response and build a strong team of rapid response specialists at the regional level, EMPHNET implemented this initiative at two levels.
Methods:
The first was basic regional RRT course (July, 2012). The second was advanced RRT course (September -October, 2012) for training of trainers and preparation of the RRTs for deployment.
Results:
The aim of introductory course for the selected candidates was to provide insight and to enhance the knowledge and skills needed to be part of an RRT. The training included 32 participants from nine EMR countries. The course was designed to allow the facilitators and selection committee to select 15-20 potential candidates for the advanced RRT course.A series of RRT training workshops were held with more than 650 health staff from twelve countries were trained.
Conclusions:
In all workshops that were conducted in the period 2016-2017, the trainees showed significant improvement in their knowledge and skills.
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