Ethiopia achieves international recognition for emergency medical teams

Health Minister Mekdes Daba announced that Ethiopia received international classification for its national Type 1 fixed Emergency Medical Team (EMT) in September 2026. This achievement makes Ethiopia the second country in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region to receive this status, following Senegal.

The Ethiopian government established a Disaster Medical Assistance Team in 2018 to build internal capacity before disasters occur.

Since then, the team has completed more than 15 missions to support communities affected by natural and other disasters. In 2023, these responders moved beyond national borders to assist people in Türkiye after a major earthquake. The minister credited the Ethiopian Public Health Institute and various government institutions for the development of these capabilities. The ministry plans to integrate the Emergency Medical Strategy for 2025 to 2030 into the revised national health strategy.

This plan links emergency response to a wider transformation of the country's health system, which currently includes over 54,000 public and non-public health facilities and 632 functional higher-level hospitals. The government aims to strengthen the entire continuum of care, from primary services to advanced emergency treatments. Minister Mekdes Daba outlined three priorities for the next phase of development: investing in personnel and logistics, turning international standards into daily practice through regular exercises, and creating clear arrangements for cross-border solidarity.

She also called for more African participation in shaping global EMT policies. The minister stated that the success of these efforts will be measured by the quality and dignity of services delivered to communities.