Senegal has made history by becoming the first African country to receive a World Health Organisation (WHO) classification for developing a Type 2 Emergency Medical Team (EMT), capable of deploying and responding to health crises globally.
Story Summary:
- Senegal is now the first African nation to receive WHO classification for its emergency medical team (EMT), enhancing its capacity to respond to global health emergencies.
- Senegal’s EMT can deploy within 72 hours to provide medical and surgical care to up to 2,500 patients during a crisis for a period of four weeks.
- The achievement follows a six-year effort and aligns Senegal with WHO’s EMT 2030 vision, marking a new milestone in global health crisis management.
Senegal now has capacity to respond to health crises around the world – WHO
This achievement positions Senegal as a leader in health crisis management in Africa and significantly enhances the continent’s emergency response capacity.
WHO’s classification indicates that Senegal’s EMT meets international standards, allowing the team to deploy within 72 hours to provide medical and surgical care to up to 2,500 patients affected by health emergencies for up to four weeks.
Senegal’s EMT is only the 49th team in the world to receive this certification, with 130 others currently in the process globally.
Senegal’s Minister of Health and Social Action Dr Ibrahima Sy described the milestone as a reflection of the country’s commitment to delivering rapid, coordinated responses to national and international health emergencies.
“This certification is a real turning point that reflects the dedication of Senegal’s health authorities to ensuring a coordinated and rapid response to emergencies, both nationally and internationally, consolidating our position as a leader in health crisis management in Africa and beyond,” he said.
WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti echoed this sentiment, congratulating Senegal for its contribution to the region’s growing expertise in handling public health emergencies.
“Emergency medical teams are a crucial set of health workforce that greatly enhances the capacity of national health systems through rapid action to save lives in times of crises,” Dr Moeti said.
Senegal’s journey toward this milestone has been in motion since 2017, with WHO providing extensive technical and financial support to the country.
During this period, Senegal deployed medical teams to respond to health crises in nations like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
The recent establishment of a WHO Regional Emergency Hub also played a key role in fast-tracking the finalization of Senegal’s EMT certification.
Regarding South Africa’s position in obtaining a similar WHO classification, there has been progress but not a formal certification yet.
South Africa has been involved in the WHO’s broader initiative to enhance emergency medical teams across the African continent.
This initiative began intensifying post-Ebola, and while Senegal’s success showcases the progress made by African nations, other countries like South Africa are still in the developmental phase, working toward improving their emergency response infrastructure
