OPS organiza webinar para fortalecer equipos de respuesta a emergencias de salud y desastres

Washington D.C., September 2, 2025 (PAHO) - On August 28, PAHO/WHO, through its Health Emergencies Department, held a webinar to strengthen multidisciplinary rapid response teams (RRTs) for health emergencies and disasters in the Region of the Americas. The event brought together 150 professionals from 25 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Multidisciplinary rapid response teams play a key role in the health sector response. They contribute to damage assessments, the collection and analysis of critical information, and support national authorities in the evaluation, planning, coordination, and implementation of response operations.

Given that in the Americas different types of RRTs exist-including mental health, damage assessment, Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), epidemic control, among others-participants shared experiences from Colombia, Guatemala, Suriname, and Jamaica. These highlighted the essential role RRTs play in implementing coordinated response plans with health authorities, as well as the importance of ensuring these teams include experts from all health organizations and relevant sectors.

Participants agreed that RRTs should be integrated into national processes and response plans, both multi-hazard and hazard-specific. They also stressed the importance of governance, under the leadership of national authorities, to ensure official recognition, timely deployment, and sustainability of these teams.

As part of the webinar, a draft guidance document for strengthening RRTs was presented. The proposal outlines critical elements related to governance, capacities, and resources. Developed based on national experiences and with the technical and financial support of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the draft was previously shared with countries for feedback. The final document will be published soon as a reference for countries in organizing their RRTs.