Regional workshop on emergency preparedness and response to natural, accidental and deliberate CBRN events

11 – 13 February 2020
New Delhi, India
Background
Globally, emergencies are becoming more intense, frequent and non-conventional in nature. Unplanned development, accelerated industrialization, rapid urbanization, and climate change, are among the many reasons for such an upsurge. In many, if not all, such emergencies, there is a significant human cost which demands the health sector to be operationally ready at all times. It also requires the health sector to collaborate closely with the relevant technical agencies as well as the security sector to ensure a coordinated response both at strategic and operational levels. Nevertheless, the preparedness assessments conducted through the International Health Regulations (2005) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework provide evidence to the contrary. The level of preparedness in the core areas of biosafety & biosecurity, chemical and radiological and nuclear preparedness have been rated among the lowest.

The South-East Asia Regional Office, in collaboration with WHO/ HQ is organizing this regional workshop to strengthen operational readiness of the Member States for CBRN emergencies of natural, accidental and deliberate in nature.

Objectives

General Objective:

To strengthen health preparedness and response capacities to CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) events among Member States of the Region

Specific Objectives:

  • To create awareness on CBRN hazards/events;
  • To increase understanding regarding health and security preparedness/response related activities in the South-East Asia region;
  • To identify status of CBRN/deliberate events and readiness activities in the Member States;
  • To identify gaps, vulnerabilities and challenges related to CBRN preparedness and response among Member States;
  • To develop a draft Regional Roadmap for the strengthening of CBRN capacities and
  • To develop draft country level action plans for the strengthening of CBRN capacities.

Tentative agenda

Day 1 – 11 February 2020 (Tuesday)

Introductory Session

    1. Opening Remarks
    2. Meeting objectives and expected outcomes
    3. Introduction of participants
    4. Administrative announcements
      5. Session I: Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear emergencies and the current situation
    1. Global perspectives
    2. Regional perspectives
    3. Country experiences – results of the Member State Self-Assessment of CBRN preparedness and response capacities
    4. Identify capacities, gaps, vulnerabilities and challenges related to CBRN preparedness and response   

 

Day 2 – 12 February 2020 (Wednesday)

Session II: Regional roadmap for strengthening CBRN capacities

  1. Regional priorities
  2. Strategic direction
  3. Networks

Session III: Country level action plans for strengthening operational readiness for CBRN emergencies

  1. Country level priorities
  2. Existing plans/ protocols/ guidelines
  3. Networks

 

Day 3 – 13 February 2020 (Thursday)

Session IV: Country level action plans for strengthening operational readiness for CBRN emergencies (continued)

  1. Session V: Way forward
  2. Session VI: Conclusions