Context
Mass Gatherings can have real benefits. However, COVID-19 shows that they can threaten human health. More and more people are moving around Central Asia (e.g., the Belt and Road initiative), and increasing numbers of Mass Gatherings could present problems. This project presents a series of activities that will strengthen and empower Mass Gathering health preparedness and response in the region.
Overall objective
The overall objective of the project is to strengthen and empower preparedness and response for Mass Gatherings in Central Asia through a series of assessment, scientific activities, preparedness and training measures.
Specific objectives
- Improving Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) at Mass Gatherings by improving the safety of food and water through food hygiene training;
- Guarding against chemical threats by developing Poison Information Centres;
- Ensuring that Public Health Command, Control and Communication (C3) systems provide rapid, regular, and transparent communications;
- Ensuring that Mass Gatherings’ stakeholders are properly resourced;
Activities
- Training programs, workshops and exercises to test the target countries’ capabilities;
- Regional activities to strengthen health preparedness and response networks.
Achievements
- Recruitment of a network of local experts for each work package, who will be paid for their work where possible. These experts now form the Regional Working Group for each work package;
- Development of Train the Trainer course material for each Work Package;
- Development and delivery of a series of on-line webinars for each Work Package;
- The WHO has officially agreed to become an observer on the Project;
- The World Bank’s International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Food Safety Advisory Program has agreed to share resources and become an observer on the Project;
- The UK’s TOXBASE (Poison Information Centres’ chemical database) has agreed to access to Public Health Professionals in partner countries.
- Reference
- IFS/2020/420-489
- Project duration
- 18 Dec 2020 - 17 Jun 2025
- Project locations
- KazakhstanMongoliaPakistanTajikistanUzbekistanKyrgyzstan
- CBRN areas
- Bio-safety/bio-security
- Crisis management
- Protection of material/facilities
- Public health impact mitigation
- CBRN categories
- Chemical
- Biological
- Radiological
- Nuclear
- CoE Region
- CA - Central Asia
Stakeholders
Coordinators
European Commission
European Union External Action Service
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute
Participants
International Science and Technology Center (ISTC)
- Website
- https://www.istc.int/