At the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted a critical but often overlooked fact: 24% of all global deaths are tied to preventable environmental factors, including pollution, chemicals, and waste. His report emphasized the challenges faced by low- and middle-income countries, where poison centers and health surveillance systems are scarce.
Key Challenges Identified:
- More than half of all countries lack poison control centers.
- Weak health monitoring systems make it difficult to track chemical-related health risks.
- Over 100,000 chemicals are in daily use, yet data on their dangers remain limited.
To address these gaps, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a free online training series to help health workers, emergency responders, and technical experts manage chemical incidents safely.
New WHO Training Program: Chemical Hazards Preparedness
The four-part course, available on the WHO Academy platform, covers:
Introduction to Chemical Hazards – Explains the difference between everyday chemicals and dangerous substances like chemical warfare agents (CWAs). Includes real-world case studies and digital tools for threat assessment.
Elements for Assessment – Teaches responders how to analyze environmental and clinical evidence to assess chemical exposures.
Immediate Actions at the Event Site – Guides responders on safe decision-making at chemical incident scenes, including positioning and situational awareness.
Response at the Hospital Site (Coming Soon) – Will focus on treating chemical exposure victims, covering triage, decontamination, and medical protocols.
The courses are free, sequential, and designed to boost global readiness against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.
Why It Matters:
With chemical-related deaths on the rise, WHO’s initiative aims to strengthen global response efforts and reduce preventable fatalities.
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