Abu Dhabi Health policy to improve health system disaster and crisis resilience

ABU DHABI, 11th April, 2018 (WAM) -- The Abu Dhabi-based Rabdan Academy is ready to support public and private health systems, including the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, to improve the disaster preparedness readiness and crisis management coordination in the region, according to an Academy official. It marks a further step in improving the readiness of institutions, in both the public and private sector, to deal with any emergencies. "In May 2012, the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi published the ‘HAAD Standards for Major Incident Disaster Preparedness in Healthcare in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi," according to Richard Caldwell, a faculty member at Rabdan Academy, told the Emirates News Agency, WAM. "This standard establishes common criteria to be used to develop, implement, and maintain systems and processes to respond to major incidents or disasters. Specifically, this standard details specific elements in support of hazard identification including risk assessment and impact analysis; communication procedures and protocols; business continuity principles and requirements; management of CBRNE incidents (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive); and implementation of TETRA radio communications." Last October, Caldwell noted, the new Abu Dhabi Department of Health, which replaced HAAD, published the DOH Policy on Healthcare Emergency and Disaster Management for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. "This innovative and ground-breaking policy is in support of Federal Law by Decree No. 2 of 2011 which established the National Emergency, Crises and Disasters Management Authority, NCEMA," he said. The new law, Caldwell added, "forms the legislative basis and requirements for disaster management activities within all levels of government and private organisations, including healthcare facilities. One of the key responsibilities outlined in the law is to coordinate and cooperate in all areas of joint action to enhance the readiness of the UAE in the face of emergencies, crises and disasters and organise the use of all means of coordination and communication at the local and federal levels." In line with the 2011 Law, Emergency Preparedness, designed to protect life and society and to decrease vulnerabilities that can cause harm, is among the seven priorities of Abu Dhabi’s Healthcare Sector Strategy that seeks to improve healthcare in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Emergency preparedness aims to protect life and society and decrease vulnerabilities that can lead to significant harm. Four policy priority areas are Mitigation and Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery, and Post-Disaster Assessments, Caldwell noted. The Rabdan Academy is an active partner with both governmental and private sectors and is the pre-eminent provider of emergency management and business continuity education in the UAE. It provides offers professional degree courses in the fields of intelligence, security, integrated emergency management, and business continuity as well as a selection of short courses designed for professional development of personnel working in the safety, security, defence, emergency and crisis management sectors. "The Rabdan Academy is ready to expand collaboration not only with the UAE Military and Abu Dhabi Police but to additional UAE and regional partners as well, including the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, in order to strengthen coordination and resilience of local and regional healthcare systems." its director, James Morse, said.