Pandemic Preparedness and Response During Mass Gatherings
Pandemic Preparedness and Response During Mass Gatherings
Wednesday, 15 January 2020
Salwa 2, Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel
Introduction:
Mass Gatherings can be considered as a suitable breeding ground for an accelerated pandemic due to the large populations attending the events, which usually gather in a small geographical area. Furthermore, the risk of further spread is magnified when these potentially exposed people travel to their home/other countries. In this workshop, we discuss the possible impact of a pandemic on a planned mass gathering, and how nations and agencies should plan for such a complicated scenario.
Aim and Objectives of the Workshop:
- Raise the level of awareness of the impact of a pandemic outbreak during a mass gathering on the local and guest populations.
- Understand the key preparedness and response measures required to ensure the health and safety of the population and the legacy of the host nation.
The workshop will cover the following main areas in pandemic preparedness and response plan (in relation to a concurrent mass gathering):
- Surveillance
a. Describe the current surveillance system in your country.
b. Do you think your country surveillance system is ready for a mass gathering?
c. What would you need to add/improve in your current surveillance system to be well prepared for a mass gathering event?
d. In light of your mass gathering surveillance plan, would it be enough for a disease pandemic? If not, what would need to be added?
e. Facilitator: Does your plan include hotspots? (e.g. PoE, fanzones, etc.) - Multi-agency collaboration
a. What issues would need to be discussed at a multisectoral level with regards to mass gatherings?
b. Which agencies/sectors would you include in your planning meetings and plans? How will you handle the coordination of activities?
c. How would a pandemic alter your plans? List the additional topics that would need to be brought into the planning meetings? - Risk communication
a. Discuss briefly the expected risk communication measures used in a mass gathering context.
b. Will the measures identified above be sufficient for a concurrent pandemic? If not, what needs to be added?
c. How would a pandemic alter your plans? List the additional topics that would need to be brought into the planning meetings? - Surge capacity
a. Describe the difficulties in dealing with surge capacity (services, beds, staff, etc.) when planning for a mass gathering.
b. What complexities will a pandemic during a mass gathering pose on your plans?
c. Facilitator: What kind of shortages can you prepare for (e.g. Medications, equipment, test kits, vaccines)? Would the host country be considered a priority market for a new vaccine? Just in time contracts? - Disease prevention and control
a. When preparing for a mass gathering, what diseases would you anticipate and why?
b. What would you consider to be effective disease prevention and control measures?
c. Will a circulating pandemic change your disease prevention and control measures? If yes, how?
d. Facilitator: Would you consider canceling the event? What factors will affect your decision (e.g. political, economic, etc.)
e. Facilitator: How would you manage dead bodies?
The workshop will provide a platform for participants to discuss and explore different roles and functions in pandemic preparedness and response planning during a planned mass gathering. The workshop was designed with the aim of limiting lectures in favor of a detailed discussion between the participants, capitalizing from their diverse and different backgrounds and experiences.
Targeted Audience:
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Paramedics
- Public Health Physicians
- Emergency Managers, planners and administrators
Faculty:
- Dr. Abdulrazig Hummaida
- Dr. Elmoubasher
- Dr. Mohamed Nour
- Dr. Zohair Abdelgadir
- Dr. Shazia Nadeem
- Dr. Nahla
- Dr. Walid Osman
- Dr. Sayed Himatt
- Ms. Dhouha Hamdani
Style of delivery:
- Mini Lectures, interactive discussion, Table Top exercise
CAME points: TBD
Time and Place:
- Date: Tuesday, 15 January 2020
- Time: 8am to 5pm
- Venue: Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, Doha, Qatar
Total Candidates: Limited to 60 Candidates
