Participating Countries Selected To Test A New Global Mechanism For Health Emergencies

More than 15 nations, as well as more than 20 regional health agencies, health emergency networks, and other partners, have been brought together by the World Health Organization (WHO) to test a new global coordination mechanism for health emergencies for the first time.

Exercise Polaris, a two-day simulation, evaluated Who is Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC), a framework intended to improve international cooperation, coordinate the deployment of surge teams and specialists, and fortify emergency workforces in nations.

An outbreak of a fictitious illness spreading over the globe was simulated in the exercise.

In addition to other nations serving as observers, the participating nations include Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ethiopia, Germany, Iraq, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mozambique, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Somalia, Uganda, and Ukraine. Through their national health emergency coordination system, each nation took part and collaborated in real-world scenarios to exchange information, coordinate policy, and launch their reaction.

Support for country-led responses was provided by regional and international health agencies and organizations, such as the Africa CDC, European CDC, IFRC, IOM, and UNICEF, as well as established emergency networks, including the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, the Emergency Medical Teams initiative, Stand-by partners, and the International Association of National Public Health Institutes. This exercise brought together over 350 health emergency specialists from around the world.

Collaboration Between FIFA and the World Health Organization Extended

Countries took charge of their own response activities during the simulation, interacting with WHO for emergency support, technical assistance, and coordination. The exercise gave countries a unique chance to demonstrate readiness in a real-world setting where mutual accountability and trust were just as important as speed and capacity.

The goal of the exercise was to practice interagency response protocols to global health hazards. In order to ensure prompt actions in medical emergencies, effective coordination and interoperability procedures are also essential.

Exercise Polaris reiterated that health is a global problem at a time when multilateralism is under attack and preparedness is frequently defined through a national lens.