Learning and sharing: Nepal's study visit to Indonesia for disaster preparedness and public health emergencies

4 July 2023

In May 2023, the Ministry of Health and Population of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (MoHP Nepal) embarked on a journey to Indonesia. Their destination: the WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Research in Disaster Risk Reduction, hosted by the Centre for Health Crisis, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. With support from WHO South-East Asia Regional Office and WHO Indonesia, a successful four-day visit was conducted.

Through the visit, the MoHP Nepal sought to expand their knowledge and exchange experiences on emergency preparedness and response to disasters and public health emergencies. Their focus was specifically on understanding the incident command system.

The WHO Collaborating Centre, known as WHO-CC INO 22, has been dedicated to training and research in disaster risk reduction since 2012. Their efforts revolve around boosting knowledge, building capacity, and conducting research in this field. From rapid health assessment training to disaster management and health crisis management training, as well as the development of health crisis guidelines, their work covers a wide range of crucial aspects.

During their stay, the MoHP Nepal delegation had the opportunity to visit significant institutions, including the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Council (BMKG), Fatmawati General Hospital, and DKI Jakarta Health Office. These visits provided them with a comprehensive overview of how Indonesia handles disasters and public health emergencies, enriching their understanding and knowledge in the process.

Written by Febi Putri, National Professional Officer for Health Emergencies. Photo credits: WHO/Rosa Panggabean.

WHO/Rosa Panggabean
Ms Yeshoda Aryal, Chief of Health Coordination Division at the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population met with the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, and Vice Minister of Health, Dante Saksono Harbuwono.

Nepal delegation participated in the inauguration of health reserve workforce at Ministry of Health of Republic of Indonesia

Ms Yeshoda Aryal, Chief of Health Coordination Division at the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population met with the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, and Vice Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Dante Saksono Harbuwono.

WHO/Rosa Panggabean
The Command Center of the Center for Health Crisis functions as a central hub for monitoring potential hazards. It plays a pivotal role in collecting, analyzing, reporting, and disseminating data and information.

Visiting the Centre for Health Crisis Command Center

The Command Center of the Center for Health Crisis functions as a central hub for monitoring potential hazards. It plays a pivotal role in collecting, analyzing, reporting, and disseminating data and information. Additionally, it serves as a coordination center, ensuring effective communication and collaboration with provinces, districts, and cities to promptly confirm and address potential health emergency threats. The center is part of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia.

WHO/Rosa Panggabean
BNPB plays a crucial role in monitoring and assessing disaster hazards in the nation. It serves as a dedicated facility for coordinating and conducting emergency response efforts during times of crisis.

Visiting National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB)

The Emergency Operation Centre of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) plays a crucial role in monitoring and assessing disaster hazards in the nation. It serves as a dedicated facility for coordinating and conducting emergency response efforts during times of crisis.

WHO/Rosa Panggabean
The AHA Centre representative provided an overview of the operationalization of the EOC, highlighting its pivotal role as a central hub for monitoring disasters and facilitating the coordinated response efforts of ASEAN in times of crisis.

Visiting the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre)

The AHA Centre representative provided an overview of the operationalization of the Emergency Operation Center (EOC), highlighting its pivotal role as a central hub for monitoring disasters and facilitating the coordinated response efforts of ASEAN in times of crisis.

WHO/Rosa Panggabean
Visiting Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) Albert C. Nahas, a scientist from the Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), introduced the Climate Change Information Center's programme.

Visiting Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG)

Albert C. Nahas, a scientist from the Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), introduced the Climate Change Information Center's programme, emphasizing its crucial role in issuing early warnings regarding the impact of climate change. The delegation was briefed on the collaborative effort between BMKG, DKI Jakarta Health Office, and Institut Teknologi Bandung to establish an early warning system for dengue.

WHO/Rosa Panggabean
Abu Chori, a staff member of the Ministry of Health's Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), demonstrated how the ministry monitor the EWARS using a dedicated application that can be accessed by surveillance officers at the district level.

Visiting Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (PHEOC)

Abu Chori, a staff member of the Ministry of Health's Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), demonstrated how the ministry monitor the Early Warning and Alert System (EWARS) using a dedicated application that can be accessed by surveillance officers at the district level.

WHO/Rosa Panggabean
Dr Asral Hasan presented the Ministry of Health’s Integrated Referral System (SISRUTE), shedding light on the challenges faced by Indonesia's referral system.

Visiting Directorate of Health Service Governance, Ministry of Health of Indonesia

Dr Asral Hasan presented the Ministry of Health’s Integrated Referral System (SISRUTE), shedding light on the challenges faced by Indonesia's referral system. The presentation also highlighted the transition from a tiered referral system to an integrated competency-based referral system in the country.

WHO/Rosa Panggabean
The delegation was provided with insights into hospital preparedness and response measures for dealing with mass casualties caused by chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents.

Visiting Fatmawati General Hospital

The delegation was provided with insights into hospital preparedness and response measures for dealing with mass casualties caused by chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents. Additionally, they had the opportunity to visit the isolation and decontamination room specifically designed for CBRN case management.

WHO/Rosa Panggabean
Dr Sartika explained the province's integrated Public Safety Center (PSC) and its health emergency response system.

Visiting DKI Jakarta Provincial Health Office

Dr Sartika explained the province's integrated Public Safety Center (PSC) and its health emergency response system.

WHO/Rosa Panggabean
Dr Madan Kumar Upadhaya, Chief of the Quality, Standards, and Regulation Division at the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population, used the logistics barcode scanning technique.

Visiting Centre for Health Crisis Regional Warehouse

Dr Madan Kumar Upadhaya, Chief of the Quality, Standards, and Regulation Division at the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population, used the logistics barcode scanning technique to gain access to the logistics inventory system.

WHO/Rosa Panggabean
We express our gratitude for the opportunity to facilitate this visit and extend our appreciation for the cooperation and collaboration with the Centre for Health Crisis of the Ministry of Health in Indonesia.

Group photo of MoHP Nepal, WHO Nepal, MoH Indonesia, and WHO Indonesia

That concludes a study visit by Federal Democratic Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population and the WHO Nepal Representative. We express our gratitude for the opportunity to facilitate this visit and extend our appreciation for the cooperation and collaboration with the Centre for Health Crisis of the Ministry of Health in Indonesia. It is our sincere hope that the study visit has provided valuable and meaningful insights for the Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal.

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