More than 800 participants from over 100 countries are gathering in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from November the 3rd to the 5th for the seventh Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Global Meeting, the first ever held in the WHO African Region.
Hosted by the Ethiopian government in collaboration with the World Health Organization, with support from Macao SAR and the Robert Koch Institute, the meeting focuses on strengthening countries’ capacity to provide timely, quality clinical care during emergencies. Discussions centre on sustainable financing, quality standards, operational readiness and international cooperation, guided by the EMT 2030 Strategy and lessons from recent emergencies.
The meeting brings together government representatives, health professionals, researchers and humanitarian partners to advance the development of national emergency medical teams, with the goal of establishing nationally led EMT programmes that strengthen the health emergency workforce and support health services under pressure. Across the WHO African Region, 30 countries are developing national EMT capacities, supported by the Regional Framework on Emergency Medical Teams 2026–2030.
Ethiopia’s national EMT achieved WHO international classification in September 2026, becoming the first civilian EMT in the WHO African Region to attain international classification, following an assessment of its clinical services, logistics and operational readiness. The Regional EMT Training and Knowledge Hub in Addis Ababa provides a platform for training, simulation exercises and exchange of expertise.
The meeting provides an opportunity for countries and partners to identify investment needs and define their contributions, with sustained financing, regular training and reliable deployment systems seen as essential for teams to respond effectively. The event features an EMT Exhibition showcasing innovations and best practices, a Classification Ceremony recognising newly classified teams, technical sessions, networking opportunities and an EMT Film Festival.
For Africa, hosting the meeting places the continent at the centre of global discussions on health emergency management, with Ethiopia positioning itself as a centre of excellence in emergency preparedness and response. The challenge now is to ensure the meeting’s outcomes translate into stronger national EMT programmes, better financing and more reliable deployment systems across the region.
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