EU-WHO project provided training to a new cohort of Azerbaijani doctors at WHO Collaborating Centre in Turkey

Today, certificates were presented to the participants of the training of trainers program organized at Urla International Emergency Disaster Training and Simulation Centre (WHO Collaborating Centre) in Turkey in March 22-27. 

22 healthcare professionals from Azerbaijan, including epidemiologists, TB and HIV specialists participated at the training to update their knowledge and skills on surveillance, contact tracing, infection prevention and control and maintaining the essential health care services during the pandemic. Field visits to health facilities in Izmir, Bornova and Konak demonstrated delivery of patient-centered COVID-19 care. To pass on newly acquired knowledge and skills, they will provide training to their colleagues and engage in additional capacity building initiatives of WHO.  

Certificates were presented to the training participants by Ambassador Kestutis Jankauskas, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan, Dr. Hande Harmanci, WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country Office in Azerbaijan, Dr. Sara Hasanova, Director of the Republican Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health and Dr Yagut Garayeva, Head of the Disease Prevention and Control Department of TABIB. 

“COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of international cooperation and multilateral solutions. The EU has been leading the multilateral response to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure global and equitable access to tests, treatments and vaccines. By strengthening the Azerbaijani health system, this programme prepares the country for the effective prevention and fight with the pandemic”, said Ambassador Kestutis Jankauskas at the event.  

Dr Hande Harmanci noted that capacity-building constitute a crucial element of the joint EU-WHO support to Azerbaijan’s pandemic response. “So far, we have trained 56 trainers in week-long face-to-face training sessions in September 2020 and March 2021, who continue to teach their colleagues in Azerbaijan. In addition, more than 1700 healthcare professionals have benefited from capacity-building webinars to refresh and strengthen their knowledge on providing care for COVID-19 patients, particularly for the most severe cases of COVID-19. Complimentary to other pillars of the project, capacity-building will help the country’s healthcare system to better prepared to cope with the pandemic”, Dr. Hande Harmanci stated and thanked Ministry of Health, TABIB and General Directorate of Medicine of the Ministry of Justice for cooperation in the project.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Sara Hasanova and Dr. Yagut Garayeva stressed the importance of the training and congratulated the participants on successfully completing the program.

EU and WHO’s joint Solidarity for Health Initiative project will continue support Azerbaijan’s pandemic response via providing capacity-buildings trainings, delivering medical supplies, assessments and public awareness campaigns.