EMT IPC/WASH Training – WHO AFRO Emergency Medical Teams Programme
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 19–22 November 2024
A high-impact WHO AFRO Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) IPC/WASH training focused on strengthening infection prevention, outbreak preparedness, and emergency response capacity across African EMTs in outbreak and disaster settings.
Training Background
Prior to this intervention, many African Emergency Medical Teams lacked standardized IPC/WASH protocols for emergency deployments, leaving critical gaps in infection prevention during outbreaks and disasters.
Only about 40% of healthcare facilities had reliable handwashing infrastructure, while up to 80% lacked adequate PPE access — significantly increasing infection risks for both patients and healthcare workers.
This training aligned EMTs with WHO AFRO minimum standards, focusing on practical, simulation-based learning for real-world emergency response scenarios.
Training Statistics
24
Participants Trained
4
Days Intensive Training
100%
Simulation Completion
Multi
Country Participation
Training Objectives
Strengthen EMT Capacity
Enhance IPC/WASH competencies for African Emergency Medical Teams.
Standardize Protocols
Align emergency IPC practices with WHO AFRO EMT minimum standards.
Reduce Infection Risk
Minimize healthcare-associated infections in emergency settings.
Outbreak Preparedness
Improve readiness for cholera and epidemic response scenarios.
Training Components
- WHO AFRO EMT IPC/WASH standards classroom training
- Hands-on PPE usage and hand hygiene practice
- Waste management and environmental cleaning drills
- Cholera outbreak response protocols
- Emergency simulation exercises (mock outbreak)
- Infection prevention in temporary health facilities
- Cross-country EMT coordination exercises
- Field-based scenario learning and assessment
Facilitation Role
Role
IPC/WASH Trainer – Emergency Simulation Lead
Coverage
Multiple African Countries (EMT Teams)
Delivered WHO AFRO EMT IPC/WASH training
Facilitated cholera outbreak simulation exercise
Trained teams on PPE, hygiene, and waste protocols
Major Achievements & Training Impact
Improved IPC Readiness
Strengthened outbreak preparedness across multiple African EMTs.
Standardized Protocols
Harmonized IPC/WASH practices aligned with WHO AFRO EMT standards.
Simulation-Based Learning
Full emergency response simulation for cholera outbreak scenarios.
Cross-Country Collaboration
Enhanced coordination and knowledge sharing among African EMTs.
IPC/WASH Risk & Training Impact Analysis
Pre-Training IPC/WASH Gaps
Training Impact Improvement
Visual representation of improvement in IPC/WASH compliance and emergency preparedness after WHO AFRO EMT training.
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