With EU Support, Training on Emergency Preparedness for Chemical Threats Was Held

Strengthening emergency preparedness for chemical threats requires not only advance planning, but also practical skills and effective coordination to implement those plans.

Recently, the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the WHO Country Office in Ukraine conducted a training session in Odesa on chemical emergency management for specialists in emergency preparedness and response.

The training was organised with the support of the European Union under the EU4Health CBRN Action initiative and the Weapons Threat Reduction Programme of the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Global Affairs Canada).

Representatives of health ministries and partner institutions in the fields of civil protection and emergency management enhanced their practical knowledge and skills in chemical risk assessment, response planning, and action coordination, putting these into practice through hands-on exercises.

Over two days, participants familiarised themselves with methodologies for strategic and operational risk assessment, applied WHO tools for chemical emergency preparedness planning and readiness assessment, and practised coordination mechanisms among all parties involved. They also took part in a command post exercise simulating a cross-border chemical crisis, in order to test decision-making processes and identify areas for further improvement.

The training strengthened the health sector’s preparedness, enhanced coordination, and developed practical capacities for responding to chemical threats. WHO, together with its partners, continues to support countries in implementing practical solutions that improve the preparedness and resilience of health systems in Ukraine and across the region.

Source: WHO in Ukraine