The World Health Organization (WHO) has successfully verified the Ethiopian National Emergency Medical Team (EMT), making it the first civilian EMT in the WHO African Region to attain international classification.
This achievement is the result of years of leadership, strategic investment, and partnership driven by the Government of Ethiopia through the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), alongside technical support from the WHO and global partners.
The rigorous verification process confirmed that the team meets strict international standards across governance, clinical care, logistics, information management, infection prevention, and operational readiness.
“Today is the day our people ask: Are you there for us? Are you prepared for us?” said Dr. Mekdes Daba, Minister of Health. “The successful WHO verification demonstrates our readiness to protect communities when emergencies strike.
Emergency Medical Teams consist of trained health professionals capable of rapidly deploying during natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and humanitarian crises to provide life-saving clinical care as self-sufficient units.
Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director General of the EPHI, emphasized that the recognition is a testament to rigorous, independent international evaluation. “This is not a recognition we claim for ourselves, but one earned through rigorous and independent international verification, moving us a concrete step closer to becoming a center of excellence.”
The timing aligns with a pivotal regional movement, as 30 African nations actively develop national EMT capacities under the Regional Framework on Emergency Medical Teams (2026–2030). Building on this momentum, Addis Ababa will host the 7th Global Emergency Medical Teams Meeting from November 3 to 5, 2026—marking the first time the global gathering takes place in the WHO African Region.