The Mpumalanga Department of Health held a 2-day workshop to teach an emergency
response team important skills. The workshop took place on February 21-22, 2024 in
Nelspruit.

The emergency response team is called the Public Health Emergency Operations
Centre (PHEOC) Steering Committee. Their role is to coordinate the province’s
response to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

The workshop teachers came from the National Department of Health, the World Health
Organization, and organizations in Gauteng. They taught the PHEOC team skills like:

• Understanding international health emergency rules
• General emergency response principles
• Developing emergency response programs
• Preparing for different types of emergencies
• Managing resources for emergency response

The PHEOC centre is the main location for managing information and resources when
an emergency occurs. It helps leaders make decisions and coordinate the response
across the province. The PHEOC uses special communication tools to share
information quickly.

After the workshop, the PHEOC team will choose a leader and get their centre running
in Mpumalanga. They need good training so they are ready to respond if there is a
disease outbreak or other public health emergency. Their skills can help save lives!

The Department of Health wants to make sure the province has a strong emergency
response plan. The PHEOC team will work with national and international experts to be
prepared. If you see or hear about a health problem in your community, let an adult
know. Reporting issues quickly can help the PHEOC team respond faster. We all have
a role to play in keeping Mpumalanga healthy and safe!