Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe have developed action plans to improve the speed and response capacity of emergency medical teams when dealing with epidemics, disasters and other health emergencies.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the plans were drawn up during the organisation’s first regional seminar specifically for Portuguese-speaking countries, with the support of China and the Macao Special Administrative Region.

WHO experts and national representatives assessed existing capacities, identified operational needs and set priorities for establishing national teams with appropriate training, equipment and co-ordination. The plans set out responsibilities and measures for the next 12 to 24 months, with technical monitoring by WHO.

During the seminar, the WHO’s ten-step approach to developing emergency medical teams and integrating them into national response systems was presented. Drawing on experience gained from COVID-19, cholera and cyclones, the delegations examined governance, financing, human resources, equipment and logistics.

The initiative also seeks to address difficulties in accessing specialised guidance and language barriers that have hampered progress in Portuguese-speaking countries.

(Source: Notícias Lusófonas, 16 September)