Ethiopia verifies first civilian Emergency Medical Team in Africa
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the World Health Organization (WHO) verified the country’s National Emergency Medical Team (EMT), making it the first civilian team in Africa to meet international standards.
Years of work by the Ethiopian Government, through the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), with support from WHO and other partners, led to this achievement.
The verification confirms the team can provide quality emergency medical care, deploy rapidly, and respond effectively to crises like disease outbreaks and natural disasters. Ethiopia’s EMT includes clinicians, nurses, logisticians, and other specialists trained to establish fully functional field hospitals in challenging conditions. This milestone demonstrates Ethiopia’s commitment to protecting its communities and its progress towards becoming a center for emergency preparedness in Africa.
The country will host the 7th Global Emergency Medical Teams Meeting in November, welcoming teams from around the world. Thirty nations in the African region are currently building their own EMTs, guided by a regional framework adopted in August 2026. Ethiopia’s team has already assisted with responses to a landslide in the Gamo Zone and preparations for disease outbreaks. Dr. Francis Chisaka Kasolo, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, stated the verification shows what is possible through national leadership and partnership.
The Regional EMT Training and Knowledge Hub in Addis Ababa will continue to support training and knowledge-sharing across Africa.
