Addis Ababa to Host 7th WHO Emergency Medical Teams Global Meeting, First in Africa

The meeting, jointly organized by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and WHO, is expected to provide an international platform for countries to exchange experiences, share expertise and strengthen cooperation in responding to public health emergencies.

Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the meeting, Naima Zeynu, Director of Public Health Emergency Preparedness at EPHI, said Ethiopia had been undertaking a range of structural reforms to strengthen health sovereignty and build national capacity across the health sector.

She described the meeting as an important milestone that would create opportunities for countries to share experience and best practices in emergency medical response.

Zeynu noted that public health emergencies place considerable pressure on health systems, underscoring the importance of preparedness, institutional capacity and effective emergency response mechanisms.

She also highlighted EPHI’s efforts to establish itself as a center of excellence in Africa, noting that the institute had gained international recognition for its work.

For his part, Professor Darino Valde, Head of the Emergency Programme at WHO’s Ethiopia office, said the meeting would bring together a wide range of participants and serve as a platform for emergency health professionals to learn from one another.

He described Ethiopia as a country that could serve as an example in the delivery of emergency health services.

The gathering is expected to provide an opportunity to advance professional exchange and strengthen international collaboration in emergency medical response, as countries face increasingly complex public health threats.