Event highlights
Under the European Union- and WHO-funded Health Security in Türkiye Project, the WHO Country Office in Türkiye, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Türkiye and with technical guidance from WHO/Europe’s Division of Health Security, convened the Advanced Public Health Emergency Management Training in Ankara on 4–8 May 2026.
The training brought together key national and subnational stakeholders including representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), emergency health services, laboratory networks and other response institutions to strengthen coordinated preparedness, response and recovery capacities for public health emergencies.
As highlighted by Dea Dello Iacovo, Programme Manager at the European Union Delegation to Türkiye, “Strong health systems are built before emergencies occur through coordination, preparedness and continuous learning”. Reflecting this shared vision, the programme focused on strengthening operational readiness and multisectoral collaboration across institutions and levels of governance, while emphasizing the importance of resilient health systems capable of responding effectively to complex emergencies and disasters.
Building on the foundational public health and emergency management training delivered in 2024, the advanced training emphasized scenario-based and applied learning across the full emergency management cycle. Through technical sessions, case discussions and tabletop exercises, participants explored approaches to risk-informed preparedness, readiness, response and recovery, while strengthening interoperability between national and international emergency management systems.
Discussions throughout the training also highlighted the importance of establishing resilient structures that can function effectively under challenging field conditions, particularly in the aftermath of disasters. As noted by Dr Murat Genç, Head of the Disaster and Emergency Management Department at the Ministry of Health, “One of the biggest pillars of effective disaster response is public health emergency preparedness, underlining the need for health system resilience”.
The event further reinforced the understanding that effective emergency management depends not only on strong individual capacities, but also on how well systems work together across departments, sectors and levels of governance. In this context, Dr Priyakanta Nayak, WHO Health Security in Türkiye Project Coordinator, emphasized the importance of integrated systems and coordination in strengthening collective readiness for future public health emergencies.
The initiative reflects the continued collaboration between WHO, national authorities and the European Union in advancing health security and strengthening Türkiye’s preparedness, resilience and emergency response capacities.
Event notice
Strong health systems are built before emergencies occur through coordination, preparedness and continuous learning.
Under the European Union–WHO-funded Health Security in Türkiye Project, the WHO Country Office in Türkiye, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Türkiye and with technical guidance from WHO/Europe, is hosting the Advanced Public Health Emergency Management Training on 4–8 May 2026 in Ankara. The training brings together key national and subnational stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health of Türkiye, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and other relevant response institutions, to strengthen coordinated preparedness, response and recovery capacities for public health emergencies.
Today’s world continues to present diverse public health threats, including infectious disease outbreaks, environmental and chemical hazards, and natural disasters. Türkiye’s strategic geographic position places it at the centre of these challenges. Nevertheless, recent experiences, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 earthquakes, have highlighted Türkiye’s resilience and the importance of strong coordination, preparedness, readiness and intersectoral collaboration for effective emergency response. The training also reflects the strong leadership of the Ministry of Health in advancing national emergency preparedness and response capacities.
The training aims to enhance operational readiness across key national structures, including the Ministry of Health, emergency health services, field epidemiology units and laboratory networks. It also supports alignment with the WHO health emergency prevention, preparedness, response and resilience framework and the Türkiye National Disaster Response Plan (TAMP), strengthening interoperability between national and international systems.
Building on the 2024 foundational public health emergency management training, this advanced training focuses on scenario-based, applied learning across the full emergency management cycle, through technical sessions, case discussions and tabletop exercises.
It further reflects the ongoing collaboration between WHO and national authorities in Türkiye in advancing health security and public health emergency management, with continued support of the European Union.