A four-day national workshop on medical response to hazardous materials incidents, including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) threats — began on Sunday at Hormuz Grand Hotel in Muscat.
Organized by the Ministry of Health’s Center for Emergency Management, in collaboration with the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority and the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the workshop aims to strengthen national preparedness and coordination in dealing with hazardous materials emergencies.
The event was inaugurated under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Ahmed bin Salem Al-Mandhari, MOH’s Undersecretary for Planning and Health Regulation, and attended by Major General Suleiman Al-Husseini, Chair of the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority, Dr. Mohammed Al-Busafi, Director of the Emergency Management Center, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Health, the Civil Defense and Ambulance Authority, and representatives from the European Union.
Participants include medical and allied medical professionals from military, security, and civil sectors, among them emergency physicians, specialists, paramedics, advanced responders, and emergency nurses. The sessions are being led by national and international experts who will share their experience and best practices in managing complex hazardous materials incidents.
The workshop focuses on reviewing emerging threats, exploring the latest developments in hazardous materials detection and decontamination, and drawing lessons from real-world incidents to enhance collective understanding and operational readiness. It also aims to build the skills of first responders and healthcare professionals through scenario-based field exercises and simulations.
The first day’s program featured a presentation on national resilience to emerging threats, followed by lectures and case studies on the role of civil defense and ambulance services in hazardous materials response, management of radiological and nuclear emergencies, chemical mass-casualty incidents, and lessons learned from past hazardous materials exposures in Oman.
The workshop will conclude on Wednesday with a hands-on field exercise hosted by the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority, simulating a real-life hazardous materials scenario.