WHO says Azerbaijani health sector ready to hold European Games
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan’s health sector is completely ready for prevention and controlling highly infectious diseases during European Games, the World Health Organization (WHO) technical team reports.
The team visited Azerbaijan on October 26-30, the WHO website said on November 19.
Azerbaijan’s capital Baku has increasingly become a venue for large-scale international sports and cultural events.
The aim of the WHO team’s visit was to help the Health Ministry and other relevant authorities establish measures to protect the health of participants, spectators and the general public during such mass gatherings.
The immediate aim was to support implementation of public health protection efforts related to the first Global Forum on Youth Policies, which took place in Baku on October 28-30.
The longer-term objective of the visit was to help prepare for the European Games, to be held in Baku on June 12–28, 2015. Over 6,000 athletes are expected to come to compete in this first major European multisport event.
The WHO team met with representatives of the organizing committee, the director of Athlete Services and Operations and representatives of the medical team of the Baku 2015 European Games to discuss public health preparedness, WHO recommendations for public health measures during mass gathering events and overall preparation for this major event.
They also reviewed recommendations made last year during a preliminary WHO assessment mission requested by Azerbaijan in September 2013.
The team concluded that Azerbaijan has prepared its medical services well for holding the games.
The WHO will continue to work closely with the Azerbaijani authorities to support further training of medical personnel on infection control, personal protection and handling of highly infectious material during sample taking, transport and testing, said the statement.
The WHO cooperates with Azerbaijan through the WHO Country Office, established in June 1994 in Baku to assist in the implementation of WHO programs in the country.