Submission ID 131585
| Issue/Objective | Ethiopia has made strong and measurable progress in developing its N-EMT, establishing a foundational framework, mobilizing trained personnel, and expanding its scope to address a variety of emergencies. Since its inception in 2018, the team has successfully deployed to more than 50 missions, addressing mass gatherings, conflicts, severe malnutrition, natural disasters, and highly infectious disease public health emergencies, both nationally and internationally, which played a pivotal role as a primary response capability and participated in regional health diplomacy. With a clear strategic road map supported by a core team executing a comprehensive joint work plan together with more than 600 multidisciplinary trained rostered health care professionals, and prepositioned medical equipment and supplies in stock. The N-EMT is working towards the WHO Type I Fixed EMT global classification through the peer-review process, to achieve the quality assurance designation in a Mentorship Programme. With the ambition to become the first civilian EMT in the African Region. The implementation score is achieved through strategic partnerships, targeted resource mobilization, and government commitment. This evolution models resilient, timely response, context-driven health equity, reducing international medical teams' reliance during crises. After adopting the global minimum standard, Ethiopia aims to create a national accreditation mechanism, where sub-national teams will undergo a mentorship program. |
|---|---|
| Methodology/Approach | Holistic single-case study design with a mixed-methods approach to evaluate Ethiopia's N-EMT establishment. Data were triangulated through semi-structured key informant interviews and an in-depth review of operational and policy documents. Progress was measured by the WHO Classification and minimum standards for EMT. |
| Results | This evolution has transitioned the country from an unorganized, uncoordinated response, with poor integration of public health and clinical response, and a lack of clear activation and incident command structured disaster response, to a structured framework supported by a multidisciplinary, motivated, competent, and Activated roster workforce with a capacity to respond in a self-sufficient manner backed with prepositioned equipment and supplies. Through the strategic partnership, together with targeted advocacy and resource mobilization, the initiative aims towards the global WHO classification, followed by setting up a national accreditation program, which will ensure the long-term, timely national response capability and standardized health equity in times of adversity across the country. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Ethiopia's effort in building a local surge capacity can be seen as a practical, replicable model for a low-resource setting, an effort to create a self-reliance response mechanism. This shift directly aligns with the conference theme of "Equity in action," by centering local capacity and context-driven solutions to ensure standardized and timely care during a crisis at all levels. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Dr. Nahom Tadelle Dessie Ethiopia Public Health Institute Dr. Nahom Tadelle Dessie Ethiopia Public Health Institute Dr. Mesgana Befekadu Gebreselassie Ethiopia Public Health Institute |
