WHO and USAID Collaborate to Strengthen Kyrgyzstan's Emergency Preparedness

The SimEx funded by the USAID’s Global Health Security (GHS) Program was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of existing operational protocols in response to suspected cases of infectious diseases upon aircraft arrival. Divided into four stages, the exercise simulated various scenarios from the moments preceding landing to the management of passengers and patients.

Dr. Liviu Vedrasco, WHO Representative to Kyrgyzstan, emphasized the importance of such simulations in bolstering emergency preparedness. "SimEx exercises are instrumental in identifying and addressing gaps in our response capabilities," he stated. "By providing participants with hands-on experience in a simulated emergency scenario, we can refine protocols and enhance our readiness to tackle real-world challenges."

“Conducting practical exercises helps to firstly test our operating procedures, secondly, improve them before the real situation arises, and thirdly, build public health capacity to respond to emergencies and prepare for future threats,” commented Abdykadyr Joroev, Director of the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance under the Ministry of Health.

Representatives from a multitude of organizations, including the Ministry of Health, the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance departments, and various other government ministries and agencies, actively participated in the exercise. Their collaboration underscored the significance of multisectoral coordination in ensuring the efficacy of public health services.

This SimEx marks the fifth installment in a series of initiatives spearheaded by WHO in Kyrgyzstan since 2019 to fortify emergency preparedness and response efforts. It serves as a testament to the commitment of all stakeholders towards safeguarding public health and strengthening the country's resilience against future threats.