“Jaheziya” launches a national program to develop the skills of Emirati paramedics

The Emirates National Program for Medical Preparedness and Response “Jaheziya” launched the specialized national program to develop the skills of Emirati paramedics and first responders in the civil and military sectors, according to a unified and internationally approved training curriculum, in a national initiative considered the first of its kind, aiming to improve the capabilities of the first line of defense personnel and enhance their readiness to deal with various accidents, emergencies, crises and disasters.

The program was developed and approved in cooperation with the National Training Center, the Readiness Academy, the European Center for Disaster Medicine, the British Life Saving Group, the American Emergency Services Foundation, and the American College of Surgeons, within a scientific and applied framework based on the best international standards and practices in the fields of emergency and disaster medicine and medical and ambulance response. The program aims to unify the specialized training of Emirati paramedics and first responders, establish unified concepts and procedures for field work, and develop mechanisms of leadership, coordination and communication between civil and military institutions, in a way that enhances the integration of roles and improves the efficiency of the joint response in various emergency circumstances and scenarios. The program relies on an integrated training curriculum that combines theoretical lectures, practical training, advanced simulation exercises, and joint multi-party field scenarios, ensuring the preparation of qualified national cadres to work efficiently and professionally within a unified national system for preparedness and response.

The CEO of the Zayed Giving Initiative and the CEO of the Emirates National “Jahiya” Programme, Dr. Adel Al-Shammari Al-Ajmi, said that the program focuses on developing the specialized and practical skills of Emirati paramedics, and qualifying them to deal with major accidents, mass casualties, and health, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear risks, in addition to raising their efficiency in the areas of leadership, coordination, communication, and decision-making during crises.

The head of the European Center for Disaster Medicine, Professor Roberto Magvero, said that unifying training between civil and military institutions enhances coordination and integration between teams during major incidents, and improves leadership, communication, task distribution and decision-making processes under pressure. He explained that the success of the pilot phase in training and qualifying thousands of paramedics and first responders constitutes a strong base for expanding the implementation of the program at the national level, with the importance of preparing certified Emirati trainers and updating the curricula continuously.

He added that training based on simulation and joint multi-party scenarios is one of the most important modern tools for measuring readiness, identifying opportunities for improvement, and raising the efficiency of individuals and institutions in dealing with emergencies, crises and disasters.