On March 28, the 26th edition of the National First Line of Defense Forum officially opened in Abu Dhabi. Organized by the National Integrated and Integrated Training System for Preparedness and Response under the supervision of the UAE National Medical and Volunteer Reserve Team, the forum followed the theme of “Together for a Nation to Prepare”.“Accredited by the European Center for Disaster Medicine and National Training, the program has had extensive participation from national medical institutions, ambulance services, civil defence, police, as well as emergency and disaster response authorities.
Dh100 million in special training grants
Under the strategic declaration, a grant of Dh100 million has been allocated for specialized training to support first responder capabilities. These internationally recognized programs will cover emergency management, disaster preparedness and major incident response. These will be delivered in partnership with global institutions including the American Disaster Foundation, the European Center for Disaster Medicine, the American College of Surgeons, and leading organizations in the United Kingdom. They are mandatory under national regulatory directives.
first time to abu dhabi
Professor Roberto Mugavero, President of the European Center for Disaster Medicine, announced the official recognition of Abu Dhabi as the first licensed center for emergency and disaster medicine training in the Middle East and North Africa. He said Abu Dhabi has strengthened its position as a regional and international hub for developing training curricula, leading simulation-based programs and integrating artificial intelligence technologies into training.
26th edition of National First Line of Defense Forum
The launch of the 26th edition of the Forum reflects the strategic national vision to strengthen the country’s preparedness and build a comprehensive response system. With ongoing regional tensions and escalating war between Iran and the US-Israel, Middle Eastern countries are making emergency preparations in all areas to ensure security and preparedness. Dr. Adel Al Shammari Al Ajmi, CEO of Zayed Giving Initiative, Chairman of the UAE Doctors Initiative and Head of the National Readiness and Response Programme, stressed that the first-line defense heroes represent the backbone of national health security. He said the investment in their training and empowerment is a direct investment in community safety. The forum also honored first-line defense heroes, including distinguished national professionals who contributed to the design and management of specialized training programs. Training institutions, certified trainers, and reserve and volunteer medical teams were also recognized for their role in supporting health care and community institutions locally and internationally.Furthermore, Ajami said that the platform is the result of a concerted national effort to build an integrated training ecosystem that brings together government, private and non-profit sectors through strategic partnerships.The Forum aligns with the UAE’s national vision to establish an integrated and integrated field management system at the operational level by combining theoretical learning, practical application and high-fidelity simulation. It also strengthens cooperation between health care, security and service sectors.