Doha, Qatar: ​More than 100 experts and specialists from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), along with national ministries and agencies, took part in a five-day workshop recently organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) Office in Qatar, in collaboration with the MoPH. The workshop focused on the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS).

The National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) provides a comprehensive framework to ensure Qatar's preparedness to prevent, detect and respond to health threats, ranging from outbreaks of infectious diseases to chemical, biological and radiological hazards.

The workshop brought together representatives from government bodies, healthcare providers, academia, civil society and partner organisations with the aim of strengthening Qatar's capacity to prepare for and respond to health emergencies. Participants actively engaged in discussions and technical activities with experts from the WHO Health Emergencies Programme at both the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and WHO headquarters. The sessions focused on assessing current capacities, identifying key priority gaps and developing a comprehensive national plan for health security.

Dr Soha Albayat, Director of the Health Emergency Department at the Ministry of Public Health, stated,“The workshop reflects Qatar's commitment to the International Health Regulations and to ensuring the highest standards of health security and wellbeing. It represents a key step in the development of the National Action Plan for Health Security.”

Dr Rayana Bou Haka, WHO Representative in Qatar, also emphasised the importance of the workshop, saying,“Health security is one of the top priorities of the WHO partnership with Qatar. This workshop marks an important milestone in our joint efforts to develop and enhance Qatar's advanced preparedness and response capacities.”

Through this workshop, Qatar reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening national health security while contributing to regional and international efforts to protect communities from emerging threats.

The workshop concluded with an agreed set of actions to strengthen intersectoral coordination, build technical and operational capacities, and ensure the sustainability of long-term efforts to enhance health security across all sectors. The outcomes of the workshop will guide the next phase of implementing the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS), in alignment with Qatar's National Health Strategy (NHS) and the WHO's priorities for emergency preparedness and response.

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