Kuwait Enhances Medical Readiness with EU-Supported Radiation Emergency Training

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) materials play critical roles across various sectors, offering significant benefits to society, the environment, and the economy. Radiological materials are extensively utilized in medical diagnostics and treatment, while biological agents can be harnessed for vaccines and agricultural productivity. However, these materials can pose significant hazards if mishandled, lost, abandoned or exploited for malicious purposes, lading to the occurrence of radiation emergencies that can have adverse consequences on the environment, public health, and human life.

To ensure robust preparedness and mitigation of these risks, it is crucial to enhance countries capabilities in managing radioactive materials by adopting a comprehensive approach to prevent, respond and recover from potential radiological incidents.

In a proactive endeavour to enhance national preparedness and response capabilities to Radiological and Nuclear (RN) incidents, the Ministry of Health of the State of Kuwait, with the support of the European Union Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence EU CBRN CoE, successfully organized a comprehensive four-day training course on “Medical Response to Radiation Emergencies.” The event, held from June 24-27, 2024, at the Institute of Medical Specialties, aimed to enhance the medical readiness of the State of Kuwait in dealing with radiation emergencies. 

The EU CBRN CoE supported the training via the Initiative's Regional Secretariat for the Gulf Cooperation Council

Capacity Building for Medical Preparedness and Response to CBRN Incidents 

The training brought together approximately 100-150 participants, including first responders from the Ministry of Health who are directly responsible for managing casualties in the event of RN incidents. The skills acquired during this course are set to significantly raise medical preparedness at the national level.

Participants were trained by experts from both the European Union and the Middle East, who were specially trained under the EU CBRN CoE projects 54 and 82, focusing on “Capacity Building for Medical Preparedness and Response to CBRN Incidents.” The course sought to raise awareness and enhance scene recognition during RN events, as well as to teach fundamental detection technology and procedures for scanning for contamination. Additionally, it provided hands-on training in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and casualty management.

The lead instructors designed a comprehensive training program that was well-received by the participants. Despite varying skill levels, the course content effectively enhanced participants' general knowledge and basic skills in RN incident management. The participants engaged enthusiastically, demonstrating a keen interest in advancing their preparedness in this field.

Emergency planners and strategic experts particularly benefited from a better understanding of the diverse range of stakeholders and the need for proper coordination across different authorities during a RN emergency situation. A scenario tabletop exercise highlighted the key aspects for efficient CBRN response planning and coordination at the national level regarding the division of responsibilities and leadership during an incident.

“The training course is a crucial step in strengthening the country’s national capacity to respond to radiation emergencies. The collaboration with the EU CBRN CoE and the expertise shared by international and regional experts shall equip first responders with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage RN incidents”.

H.E. Dr. Al-Mundhir Al-Hasawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs at the Ministry of Health of Kuwait, in his opening remarks

A roadmap for enhancing Kuwait’s preparedness for radiation emergencies

The successful achievement of this outcome has encouraged the Radiation Protection Department at the Ministry of Health to organize a panel discussion that hosted officials from various relevant departments related to the National Plan for Radiological and Nuclear Emergency to exchange insights and discuss strategies for enhancing the State’s preparedness for radiation emergencies. The EU CBRN CoE Regional Secretariat for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was invited to participate in this panel to address the imperative role of regional and international cooperation in enhancing CBRN risk mitigation capabilities.

Several key recommendations were made to enhance CBRN preparedness and response: 

• Firstly, there is a need for developing a comprehensive national CBRN response at all levels, with strategic support being crucial. 
• Collaborative strategies, plans, and procedures among stakeholders are essential, along with establishing a joint theoretical training platform to enhance situational awareness and cross-sectoral cooperation. 
• In addition, effective cross-sectoral cooperation should be incorporated into education, training, and exercises to facilitate coordinated life-saving efforts during CBRN incidents.

Kuwait: an active partner country of the Gulf Cooperation Council

Kuwait officially joined the EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Initiative in 2018 as an active partner country of the Initiative’s GCC Regional Secretariat. The country played a significant role in the development of the project roadmap for Project 82 on Capacity Building for Medical Preparedness and Response to CBRN Incidents, as well as in the enhancement of cooperation with the GCC Emergency Management Agency (EMC).

The GCC Regional Secretariat is also a close partner with the Kuwait Fire Service Directorate and has in the past been invited regularly to attend the annual Shamil Holistic Exercises held in Kuwait to demonstrate the country's ability for multi-agency cooperation in disaster management with varying themes, including CBRN scenarios.