The Command and Control Center (CCC), the crisis response unit of the Ministry of Health (MOH), today conducted a webinar for healthcare workers throughout the Kingdom to focus on efforts to prepare for, monitor and respond to potential public health threats such as MERS-CoV and Ebola.
During the webinar, the CCC updated participants regarding actions the unit has undertaken since its creation earlier this, year and provided an outline of the protocols that it uses to identify and respond to possible public health events.
Approximately 25 percent of the country’s hospitals participated in today’s session, which will be made available for replay to other healthcare professionals. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session that lasted approximately 90 minutes. Among the topics discussed was the “937” telephone emergency service provided by the CCC; it is deemed to be an important communications tool to connect frontline healthcare workers with specialists at the CCC who are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide information, dispatch emergency services and provide referrals as needed.
Today’s webinar is the first in a planned series of such events and will be supplemented by additional programs for clinicians and infection prevention specialists at hospitals and clinics. During these events, the CCC will provide detailed information regarding protocols and guidelines for managing MERS-CoV and how to be prepared for the unlikely occurrence of an Ebola case within the Kingdom.
“We are always updating our information and best practices for emergency preparedness, based on new information and research, and we are eager to share that information with our colleagues on the front lines of our efforts to prepare for, detect and respond to emerging public health issues,” said Dr. Wael Tashkandi, CCC Chief of Staff. “Today’s event is the first in a series of educational activities aimed at supporting our dedicated healthcare teams provide the best possible care for people across the country. We are very appreciative that so many of our colleagues took the time to join us; their participation is invaluable.”