A four-day national workshop on medical response to hazardous materials incidents, encompassing chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) threats, commenced at the Hormuz Grand Hotel in Muscat. Organized by the Ministry of Health’s Center for Emergency Management in collaboration with the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority and the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the event aims to enhance Oman’s preparedness and coordination in managing hazardous materials emergencies.
The workshop was inaugurated under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Al-Mandhari, MOH’s Undersecretary for Planning and Health Regulation, with attendance from senior officials including Major General Suleiman Al-Husseini, Chair of the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority, and Dr. Mohammed Al-Busafi, Director of the Emergency Management Center. Participants comprise a diverse group of medical and allied professionals from military, security, and civil sectors, including emergency physicians, specialists, paramedics, advanced responders, and emergency nurses.
Led by both national and international experts, the training sessions focus on reviewing emerging threats, latest advancements in hazardous materials detection and decontamination, and lessons learned from past incidents to bolster operational readiness. The program emphasizes scenario-based exercises and simulations to build practical skills among first responders and healthcare personnel.
On the first day, participants received a presentation on national resilience to emerging threats, alongside lectures and case studies covering the roles of civil defense and ambulance services, management of radiological and nuclear emergencies, chemical mass-casualty incidents, and insights from previous hazardous materials exposures in Oman. The workshop aims to foster knowledge sharing and collaborative response strategies.
The event will conclude on Wednesday with a comprehensive field exercise led by the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority, simulating a real-life hazardous materials incident to test and refine response capabilities. Overall, the workshop underscores Oman’s commitment to strengthening its emergency response infrastructure against complex hazardous threats.
Reference:
National Workshop on Medical Response to CBRNE Hazardous Materials Incidents Kicks Off. (n.d.). https://moh.gov.om/en/media-center/news/national-workshop-on-medical-response-to-cbrne-hazardous-materials-incidents-kicks-off/
