Event highlights
11 September 2024
Ukraine has become the first country in the WHO European Region to conduct the latest WHO Simulation Exercise Management Training Course and to initiate discussions on its National Health Simulation Exercise Programme (NHSEP). WHO/Europe supports countries in enhancing their preparedness and response to health emergencies by providing technical guidance, building capacity and offering direct country support. Simulation exercises, a core component of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, play a critical role in assessing and strengthening countries’ health security capabilities.
On 19–22 August 2024, WHO, with generous financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Global Health Security Project, organized the 4-day Introductory Training Course on Simulation Exercise Management in Lviv, Ukraine. This initiative aims to build Ukraine’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies by equipping participants with essential skills in planning, delivering, evaluating and reporting on simulation exercises.
The course brought together 37 participants from key national and regional organizations, including the Ministry of Health, the Public Health Centre, Regional Centres for Disease Prevention and Control, the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, the Centre for Disaster Medicine, the State Emergency Service, academia and the WHO Country Office in Ukraine. Conducted by experts from WHO/Europe and WHO headquarters, the training provided in-depth instruction on WHO methodologies for managing simulation exercises.
Simulation exercises are crucial for strengthening preparedness and response to health emergencies, from natural disasters to infectious disease outbreaks. These exercises allow countries to practice real-world scenarios, test their emergency systems, and identify gaps and areas for improvement.
Throughout the training, participants engaged in practical exercises, where they developed their own simulation scenarios tailored to their respective institutions. This hands-on approach allowed participants to apply what they learned in real time and prepare to implement simulation exercises back in their home organizations.
Dr Nataliia Piven, Unit Lead on Public Health and IHR/Preparedness, WHO Country Office in Ukraine, highlighted the initiative’s significance for Ukraine: “This exercise is a crucial step towards building country capability in testing preparedness capacity through the application of the SimEx [simulation exercise] package, and institutionalizing it as an integrated practice for validation and enhancement of various preparedness and response plans, procedures and systems for all hazards”. The SimEx package is expected to feed into a broader NHSEP, which will be integrated into Ukraine’s National Action Plan for Health Security.
By the end of the training, participants were not only equipped with the skills to run their own simulation exercises, but were also positioned to play a vital role in enhancing Ukraine’s health security. As the country continues to face complex public health challenges, these efforts are critical for ensuring rapid and effective responses to future emergencies, ultimately safeguarding the health and well-being of the population.
Event notice
19-22 August 2024 (Lviv, Ukraine)
Ukraine will become the first country in the WHO European Region to conduct the latest WHO Simulation Exercise Management Training Course and to initiate discussions on its National Simulation Exercise Programme. The training, which brings together 37 participants from key national and regional organizations, aims to build Ukraine’s capacity to respond to public health emergencies by equipping participants with essential skills in planning, delivering, evaluating and reporting on simulation exercises.