The IAEA and the World Health Organization (WHO) work closely to support Member States in building capacities for medical emergency preparedness and response (EPR). As part of this work, both organizations have jointly prepared and are offering a freely accessible webinar to raise awareness of the arrangements Member States need to put in place for effective medical EPR for a nuclear or radiological emergency.
The priority during any nuclear or radiological emergency is the protection of people against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Specific medical expertise are a necessary part of robust EPR arrangements, as set out in the latest international safety requirements, the IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 7, issued in 2015.
The webinar will also raise awareness of the necessary system of protective actions, other response actions and decision-making criteria, and of the roles of the IAEA and WHO in preparedness for, and response to, a nuclear or radiological emergency. Participants will be given examples of international assistance in the medical area which was provided within the framework of IAEA’s Response and Assistance Network (RANET).
The webinar is aimed at relevant staff from response organizations at various levels, regulatory bodies in radiation protection and nuclear safety, the public health sector and medical community, staff of relevant international organizations, specialists from relevant research organizations and other interested parties.
The webinar will be held on 24 February 2017 (12:00-15:00 UTC).
For registration please follow this link. Deadline for registration is 23 February 2017. Please note that the webinar will be held in English.
Webinar programme
- Opening and logistics - Mr R. de La Vega, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, IEC, IAEA and Dr. Emilie van Deventer, WHO, Radiation Programme;
- IAEA role in nuclear or radiological emergency preparedness and response - Mr R. de La Vega, IAEA ,IEC;
- WHO role and activities in strengthening preparedness to nuclear or radiological emergencies in Member States - Dr Z. Carr, WHO and Dr Nirmal Kandel, WHO;
- Medical preparedness and response for a nuclear or radiological emergency - Mr E. D. Herrera Reyes, IAEA, IEC;
- Public health aspects of preparedness and response for a nuclear or radiological emergency - Dr Z. Carr, WHO;
- System of protective actions and other response actions in a nuclear or radiological emergency and decision-making criteria - Ms S. Nestoroska Madjunarova, IAEA, IEC;
- Q&A session - All participants.
Background
The work of the IAEA includes establishing of standards of safety for protection of health and minimization of danger to life and property in consultation and collaboration with competent organs of the United Nations and with specialized agencies concerned.
In November 2015, a new Safety Standards Series publication entitled “Preparedness and Response for a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency” (IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 7) was published in joint sponsorship of 13 international intergovernmental organizations, including the IAEA and WHO. This standard establishes the requirements for ensuring an adequate level of preparedness and response for a nuclear or radiological emergency, irrespective of its cause. In this context, it elaborates comprehensively the various arrangements to be put in place by respective Member States to ensure adequate medical EPR capability with overall EPR framework.
This webinar will be the second in a series of webinars focusing on the implementation of the IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GSR Part 7. The first webinar was addressing the protection of emergency workers and helpers in a nuclear or radiological emergency and was jointly organized with the ILO.
