Malteser International announced last Friday that its emergency medical team (EMT) has been certified by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Following a verification site visit by representatives from the WHO on Thursday, November 22 2018, Malteser International’s emergency medical team was successfully classified as EMT Type 1 Fixed.

As a WHO-certified EMT, Malteser International will now be part of the WHO’s global registry and can be requested to respond to emergencies around the world.

“This milestone is a fitting completion to the classification process we started two and half years ago,” said Oliver Hochedez, Head of the Emergency Relief department at Malteser International. “Our teams can now be rapidly deployed within 72 hours of a natural disaster, or in the event of a serious outbreak of disease or conflict. The EMT Type 1 classification means that we are equipped to set up a basic healthcare unit to treat around 100 patients a day.”

Malteser International EMT consists of a group of health professionals (doctors, nurses, midwives, and paramedics), logisticians and experts in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. The team is deployable for short-term relief missions, and is required to be logistically self-sufficient so as not to burden the national system of the country affected.

“With the EMT certification, we are making an important contribution to strengthening the United Nations emergency response system,” said Sid Peruvemba, Program Director of Malteser International.
The WHO Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) Initiative was introduced in 2016 to set minimum standards for medical teams from international organizations in sudden onset emergencies and to build capacity and strengthen health systems by coordinating the deployment of quality assured interventions.