• Collaborative Effort Aims to Strengthen First Line of Defense and Align Readiness with International Best Practices

Ajman: In a groundbreaking collaboration between the Emirates Program for Medical Preparedness and Response, Jaheziya, and Gulf Medical University, the Ajman Disaster Medicine Center was officially inaugurated today. This significant initiative is poised to empower frontline healthcare workers in both government and private hospitals across the emirate of Ajman, ensuring their readiness for medical response in accordance with a standardized curriculum and international benchmarks.

Professor Hossam Hamdi, Chancellor of Gulf Medical University in Ajman, emphasized, “Under the guidance of our visionary leadership, the UAE continues to fortify the capacities of the healthcare sector, particularly in the realm of disaster and emergency preparedness. The launch of the Ajman Disaster Medicine Center is a pivotal step in our broader endeavors to enhance our response to potential disasters or emergencies. The center plays a vital role in safeguarding the health and safety of our community, and we eagerly anticipate our collaboration in operating and managing the center, focusing on education, training, and scientific research.”

Professor Hamdi further highlighted that the Ajman Disaster Medicine Center will play a pivotal role in establishing a robust training system for emergency preparedness and response, ultimately enhancing local and regional resilience to disasters through a unified, internationally recognized curriculum.

The center is poised to provide a wide range of services, including specialized medical training, consultancy, academic studies, institutional support, and developmental initiatives in disaster medicine. Additionally, it will engage in human and administrative capacity building for healthcare workers. The center will also organize conferences, workshops, seminars, academic and training programs, as well as disseminate clinical information sessions in disaster medicine, enriching educational and research activities for frontline healthcare specialists in Ajman.

Dr. Adel al Shamiri, head of the National Center for Disaster Medicine, Chief Physician of the UAE, and head of the Emirates program for medical readiness and response, stated that the center will work relentlessly to elevate competencies, capacity building, and skills development for medical staff in both government and private hospitals through specialized training programs, seminars, workshops, and events. The center’s plans also include conducting clinical and non-clinical training for healthcare providers, targeting doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and administrative teams. Internationally approved training programs in emergency, trauma, and disaster management have been incorporated into the joint plan.

Dr. Abdulghaffar Abdulghafoor expressed his delight at witnessing the launch of the Ajman Center for Disaster Medicine, a groundbreaking initiative resulting from the collaborative efforts of readiness and Gulf Medical University. He emphasized the center’s role in standardizing training, preparedness, and medical response standards, foreseeing a positive impact on the skills of healthcare providers and, consequently, the community.

Part of the center’s responsibilities will encompass providing educational consultations and advisory services to beneficiaries, streamlining trainee appointments to suitable positions. Applying acquired knowledge in real-life situations will enhance efficiency and elevate the quality of healthcare services delivered.

Since its inception in 2020, the “readiness” program, a joint initiative by the pride of the homeland office, UAE doctors, and the Abu Dhabi health services company “Seha,” has successfully spearheaded advancements in disaster medicine. Innovative initiatives and the establishment of centers of excellence in medical training have empowered 5,000 medical personnel in state government and private hospitals, enhancing their capabilities and readiness to respond to disasters and emergencies, aligning with locally and internationally approved protocols.