{"id":244539,"date":"2026-09-16T10:30:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T08:30:19","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-09-16T10:30:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T08:30:20","slug":"ethiopia-achieves-historic-world-health-organization-who-verification-of-national-emergency-medical-team-becoming-first-civilian-national-emergency-medical-team-emt-in-africa-to-attain-internatio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricatoday.net\/africa-news\/central-africa\/congo\/ethiopia-achieves-historic-world-health-organization-who-verification-of-national-emergency-medical-team-becoming-first-civilian-national-emergency-medical-team-emt-in-africa-to-attain-internatio\/","title":{"rendered":"Ethiopia achieves historic World Health Organization (WHO) verification of national Emergency Medical Team, becoming first civilian National Emergency Medical Team (EMT) in Africa to attain international classification"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ethiopia has achieved a major milestone in strengthening national health emergency preparedness and response following the successful World Health Organization (WHO) verification of its National Emergency Medical Team (EMT), positioning the country as the first civilian Emergency Medical Team in the WHO African Region to achieve international WHO classification, alongside Senegal’s classified military EMT.<\/p>\n

The achievement marks the culmination of years of leadership, investment, training, and partnership led by the Government of Ethiopia through the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), with technical support from WHO and partners across the Emergency Medical Team Network. The verification confirms that the Ethiopian National EMT meets internationally recognized standards for quality, readiness, deployment capacity and emergency medical response.<\/p>\n

“Today is the day our people ask: 'Are you there for us? Are you prepared for us?' This is the moment we have been working toward, and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together. The successful WHO verification of Ethiopia's National Emergency Medical Team demonstrates our readiness to protect communities when emergencies strike. As we prepare to host the 7th Global Emergency Medical Teams Meeting this November, Ethiopia stands ready to welcome EMTs from around the world. We are prepared, we are committed, and we are ready.”<\/p>\n

H.E. Dr. Mekdes Daba, Minister of Health, Ethiopia<\/p>\n

Emergency Medical Teams are trained groups of health professionals capable of rapidly deploying during health emergencies, disease outbreaks, natural disasters and humanitarian crises. They provide life-saving clinical services, emergency care, outbreak response and public health support while operating as self-sufficient units in challenging environments. WHO classification serves as a global quality assurance mechanism, ensuring that EMTs meet internationally agreed standards for emergency response.<\/p>\n

“Today, with an internationally verified Emergency Medical Team, and in two months as host of the Seventh Global EMT Meeting, Ethiopia takes a concrete step toward becoming a center of excellence in emergency preparedness and response. This is not a recognition we claim for ourselves, but one earned through rigorous and independent international verification.”<\/p>\n

Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute<\/p>\n

The Ethiopian National EMT underwent a rigorous verification process against WHO standards covering governance, clinical services, logistics, information management, infection prevention and control, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and operational readiness. Earlier pre-verification and simulation exercises demonstrated the team's ability to establish and operate a fully functional field hospital and effectively respond to complex public health emergencies.<\/p>\n

“For the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, and for everyone who has contributed to this effort, this is a moment of genuine pride. It demonstrates what can be achieved when national institutions, health professionals, regional structures, international partners and technical organizations work toward a common purpose.”<\/p>\n

Dr. Melkamu Abte, Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute<\/p>\n

“This achievement reflects Ethiopia's commitment to protecting communities through stronger preparedness and rapid response capacity. The successful verification of the Ethiopian National EMT demonstrates what can be achieved through national leadership, sustained investment, strong partnerships and a shared commitment to health security.”<\/p>\n

Dr. Francis Chisaka Kasolo, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa<\/p>\n

The milestone comes at a pivotal moment for the African Region. Thirty countries are currently developing national EMT capacities, supported by the Regional Framework on Emergency Medical Teams 2026–2030, adopted during the Seventy-Sixth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa held in Addis Ababa in August 2026. The framework reinforces Member States' commitment to building operational national EMTs capable of responding rapidly and effectively to public health emergencies.<\/p>\n

The Ethiopian National EMT has already demonstrated its value through deployments and support to emergency operations within the country, including mobilization during the Gamo Zone landslide response and contributions to preparedness and response efforts for emerging disease outbreaks. These experiences have strengthened operational readiness and highlighted the critical role a nationally owned EMT can play in protecting lives during crises.<\/p>\n

The achievement was made possible through the leadership of the Ministry of Health and EPHI and the dedication of EMT members, including clinicians, nurses, logisticians, coordinators and emergency response specialists. WHO recognizes the substantial contributions of UK-Med, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), EMT Network partners, mentors, technical experts, donors and collaborating organizations that have supported Ethiopia throughout its EMT development journey.<\/p>\n

“On behalf of the Government of Ethiopia and the Ministry of Health, I congratulate every member of the Ethiopian Emergency Medical Team, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, and every partner who made this achievement possible. This recognition belongs to all those who have dedicated their expertise, commitment and hard work to strengthening Ethiopia's capacity to respond to health emergencies and protect our communities.”<\/p>\n

Dr. Dereje Duguma Gemeda, State Minister of Health of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia<\/p>\n

The Regional EMT Training and Knowledge Hub in Addis Ababa has played an important role in supporting training, simulation exercises and operational readiness activities. Through the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ethiopia and WHO, the Hub also serves as a regional platform to strengthen EMT capacities across Africa and promote the sharing of expertise among countries.<\/p>\n

While verification represents a major achievement, it also marks the beginning of a new phase. Sustaining readiness, maintaining quality standards, investing in continuous training and ensuring rapid deployment capacity will remain essential to preserving the EMT's operational effectiveness and ability to respond whenever emergencies occur.<\/p>\n

Ethiopia's achievement also comes ahead of the 7th Global Emergency Medical Teams Meeting, scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa from 3–5 November 2026, marking the first time the global gathering of Emergency Medical Teams will be hosted in the WHO African Region. The meeting will bring together governments, emergency responders, technical experts and international partners from around the world to advance collaboration and strengthen global emergency medical response capacities.<\/p>\n

As Ethiopia joins the growing global network of WHO-classified Emergency Medical Teams, the country is well positioned to contribute its expertise and experience to other African nations working to strengthen emergency preparedness and response systems.<\/p>\n

About Emergency Medical Teams<\/p>\n

Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) are groups of health professionals that can rapidly deploy to provide quality medical care during disasters, disease outbreaks, conflicts and other health emergencies. The WHO EMT Initiative supports countries in developing and maintaining high-quality teams that meet international standards and enhance national, regional and global emergency response capacities.<\/p>\n

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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South Africa Today Africa \u2013 Central Africa Congo<\/a> News<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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