WHO and UK Launch Mass-Casualty Training Programme to Strengthen Egypt’s Emergency Health System

The ToT certified 16 national instructors, who were immediately deployed to train 60 healthcare professionals from six hospitals in Greater Cairo and Ismailia, accelerating real-world implementation from day one.

The World Health Organization (WHO), with funding from the Government of the United Kingdom, has launched Egypt’s second national Training-of-Trainers (ToT) programme on Mass Casualty Management (MCM)—a strategic move to strengthen hospital readiness, standardise emergency response, and future-proof the country’s health system against large-scale shocks.

Delivered through a coordinated effort across WHO headquarters, the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, and the WHO Egypt Country Office, the programme sits at the core of WHO Egypt’s Health Emergencies Programme, combining global best practice with locally embedded capacity building.

The ToT certified 16 national instructors, who were immediately deployed to train 60 healthcare professionals from six hospitals in Greater Cairo and Ismailia, accelerating real-world implementation from day one.

Turning Crisis Readiness into System Capability

Mass casualty incidents—whether driven by conflict, disasters, or cross-border health emergencies—can rapidly overwhelm hospital systems. WHO’s MCM package equips emergency departments with standardised triage, routing, and surge-management tools designed to maximise life-saving impact, even in resource-constrained settings.

The programme is designed not as a one-off intervention, but as a scalable national model, creating a sustainable pool of trainers capable of rolling out MCM protocols across hospitals nationwide.

“Our aim is to build a national cadre capable of managing mass-casualty incidents in a coordinated and standardised way,” said Dr Nima Abid, WHO Representative in Egypt. “Since 2022, WHO has worked closely with national partners to expand MCM training, and we remain committed to strengthening Egypt’s emergency preparedness and long-term health system resilience.”

Blended Learning Meets Frontline Reality

The ToT uses a blended learning approach, combining digital modules delivered through the WHO Academy with intensive, in-person practical sessions. Over two days, participants engaged in tabletop simulations, refined hospital MCM plans, and analysed real-world operational challenges drawn from recent crises.

The curriculum covers:

• Rapid recognition and triage of mass-casualty patients

• Organisation of treatment and surge zones

• Emergency responder roles and activation protocols

• Use of action cards, checklists, and command structures

Professor Lee Wallis, Senior Technical Officer for Emergency, Critical and Operative Care at WHO headquarters, highlighted the central role of triage in crisis response.

“The guiding principle in mass-casualty management is to do the most for the most,” he said. “Standardised triage tools create a common language across routine and emergency care, ensuring the right patient reaches the right care at the right time.”

Building Local Ownership for Long-Term Impact

A core focus of the programme is national ownership and sustainability. By certifying local instructors, Egypt can continuously update, adapt, and expand training without relying on external surge deployments.

“The learning journey blends digital content, simulations and on-site coaching,” said Pierre Berendes, Consultant at the WHO Academy. “Investing in a local trainer network allows Egypt to tailor materials to its context and scale MCM nationwide with ongoing technical support.”

The programme brought together participants from the Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt Healthcare Authority, university hospitals, and the Egyptian Health Council, reinforcing multisectoral coordination across the health system.

Responding to a Volatile Regional Context

The expansion of MCM training comes amid heightened regional instability, as Egypt continues to receive large numbers of sick and injured people from neighbouring crises, including Gaza and Sudan, placing sustained pressure on emergency units.

WHO Egypt and national partners will continue rolling out MCM implementation across the country, with newly certified trainers supporting hospitals to establish clear emergency plans, organise treatment areas, and strengthen logistics and command systems.

As global health threats grow more complex, the initiative positions Egypt as a regional leader in data-driven, standardised, and scalable emergency health preparedness.