In the aftermath of a catastrophe that resulted in over 3000 severe casualties on September 17th, Beirut’s hospital emergency rooms operated flawlessly, a testament to the critical role of the Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (PHEOC).
Amid the traumatic scene that unfolded with utter uncertainty, PHEOC rose to the occasion, demonstrating its pivotal role in appraising victims’ needs and matching them to the appropriate healthcare facilities. Releasing the pressure on overcrowded hospitals by proficiently diverting casualties to other capable facilities was instrumental to the treatment process.
The PHEOC was developed by the Ministry of Public Health, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), following lessons gleaned from the war of July 2006. Originally, as a component of the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, the Emergency Operations Cell (EOC) was integral during the 2019 riots and the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, PHEOC was instated on the Ministry’s premises to enhance preparedness for, and response to, health emergencies.
Markedly, PHEOC orchestrated the response to the 2023 cholera outbreak, training healthcare professionals across 27 hospitals, focused on infection prevention, control, and cholera case management. As part of its continuous improvement protocols, WHO presently conducts refresher courses and is planning further training for an additional 22 hospitals.
Currently, due to security issues, PHEOC has been temporarily relocated back to the EOC at the Rafik Hariri University Hospital. WHO’s contribution to PHEOC includes technical assistance, space rehabilitation, office furniture and telecommunications equipment provision, among others. By nurturing a powerful capacity-building initiative, over 5600 healthcare workers across 125 hospitals have been trained in mass casualty management.
PHEOC’s support has not only been instrumental in increasing the readiness of health facilities but has also enabled the systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of critical emergency response data through the District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2). As Mrs Wahida Ghalayini, the Manager of PHEOC, aptly puts it, ‘Due to the WHO’s support, we can expedite and organize this coordination’.