Participants at a Chemical Incident Preparedness for Hospitals (HOSPREP) training workshop held in Putrajaya, Malaysia
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — 30 October 2019 — Malaysia significantly improved its emergency management capacity during a Chemical Incident Preparedness for Hospitals (HOSPREP) training workshop held in Putrajaya, Malaysia from 19 – 22 October.
The training focussed on enhancing the capabilities of medical facilities in the midst of a chemical terrorism incident and covered the general principles of emergency planning, patient reception, and decontamination treatment protocols.
Malaysia’s Ministry of Health and National Authority to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) collaborated with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to host the workshop.
Chairman of the National Authority of Malaysia, H.E. Dato Ilankovam Kolandavelu, underlined the continuing relevance of the programme stating: “Malaysia looks forward to hosting HOSPREP in 2020 for international medical experts to learn and pass on the multiplying effects of this course through the Training of Trainers concept.”
OPCW Programme Officer from the Assistance and Protection Branch, Guy Valente, expressed his gratitude to the Malaysian government for spearheading the HOSPREP programme and noted: “It is a testament to the commitment of the Malaysian Government to the well-being of the population as well as the willingness to be a regional leader in hospital preparedness.”
During the workshop, participants attended sessions facilitated by the OPCW and experts from the United States and Japan.
Fifty-eight representatives from medical institutions across Malaysia attended the workshop, alongside delegations from Kenya and Bangladesh who are partners with Malaysia under the HOSPREP programme.
Background
HOSPREP is an institutional capacity building programme initiated in 2018 by the Assistance and Protection Branch of the International Cooperation and Assistance Division of the OPCW Technical Secretariat.
As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.
Over 97% of all chemical weapon stockpiles declared by possessor States have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.