Doha, December 10 (QNA) - The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) organised a national symposium on the management of public health emergencies, preparedness, and response, with the aim of strengthening cooperation and expertise among the relevant entities in the State of Qatar in the fields of readiness and the management of health, environmental, and humanitarian crises.

The symposium brought together more than 200 representatives from the Ministries of Public Health, Interior, Defence, Municipality, Environment and Climate Change, in addition to Hamad Medical Corporation, the Primary Health Care Corporation, relief and aviation bodies, the academic and energy sectors, the private health sector, the World Health Organization, and other concerned entities in the country.

The symposium was held within the framework of assessing Qatar’s health sector's readiness to confront public health emergencies and enhancing cooperation among the various sectors engaged in emergency response. It also addressed the analysis of the contributions made by the State of Qatar in the field of relief at the regional level and reviewed global best practices in community communication and the effective involvement of the public during emergencies.

Dr. Soha Al Bayat, Director of the Health Emergency Department at the Ministry of Public Health, affirmed that the symposium reflects the State of Qatar’s commitment to strengthening its emergency preparedness through effective partnerships across different sectors. She noted that the Ministry of Public Health continues to develop the capacities of the emergency system and enhance cooperation with national and international partners, emphasising that communication with the community constitutes a fundamental pillar in raising awareness, building trust, and reinforcing societal resilience in the face of crises.

She added that the symposium provides an important platform for exchanging expertise and reviewing best practices, thereby consolidating Qatar’s role as an advanced model in

preparedness and response to health emergencies. She pointed out that the growing challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean Region require a unified approach and continuous coordination to ensure rapid, effective responses.

The symposium featured presentations and discussion sessions highlighting efforts in prevention, detection, and response to health emergencies from the perspectives of public health, food safety, and environmental health, as well as strengthening partnerships among sectors in the country. The sessions also addressed Qatar’s role in regional preparedness and relief, and reviewed strategies for community communication to build trust and enhance resilience in confronting health emergencies, with the participation of local and international experts. (QNA)