Sunday 20 / September / 2026
Muscat: The Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority, on Sunday launched an advanced specialised training programme in response to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) incidents and medical decontamination.
The programme will continue until 20 October 2026.
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Dr. Abdullah Hamoud Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development for Persons with Disabilities.
Over the course of a full month, the programme will see the participation of more than 40 physicians, consultants, and medical and health professionals from various specialties and relevant entities. In addition, a specialised Training of Trainers (TOT) programme will be implemented, benefiting approximately 20 participants, who will be qualified as national trainers capable of transferring knowledge and expertise and sustaining training in the field of CBRNE incident response and medical decontamination.
The programme will include theoretical sessions and practical applications addressing mechanisms for safe and effective response to incidents involving hazardous materials, risk assessment, management of exposure and contamination cases, medical triage and evacuation, medical decontamination procedures, and means of protecting patients and health workers.
It will also feature the participation of international experts from the International Committee of the Red Cross, who will contribute to transferring international expertise and best practices in the field of CBRNE incident response and associated risk management, thereby supporting national capacity-building efforts and the development of professional practices in this field.
On the sidelines of the programme's opening ceremony, an agreement was signed between Khoula Hospital and the International Committee of the Red Cross to enhance national capacities in the areas of preparedness and response to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive incidents, and to raise the readiness of health cadres to deal with them in accordance with best practices.
