The main aim of the training is to build the capacity of health care workers in the prevention, surveillance and control of communicable disease in Al Zaatari campAs the Syrian refugee crisis continues to force thousands of refugees across the border to Jordan, WHO, in partnership with epidemiologists from the Moroccan and French field hospitals recently initiated the first in a series of training sessions in emergency management. This training, aimed at health care professionals from Al Mafraq's rapid response team, was carried out over two days in the WHO office in Al Zaatari camp.

The main aim of the training was to build the capacity of health care workers in the prevention, surveillance and control of communicable disease in Al Zaatari camp.

Through the expertise of WHO trainers, staff from the French and Morroccan field hospitals and 15 participants from the rapid response team gained vital knowledge in the necessary skills needed for successful communicable disease management in emergencies.

The inaugural training session specifically focused on the practicalities of communicable disease management. However, over the coming months WHO and its partners have highlighted the need for further training, with the next session primarily focusing on medical waste management.

Dr Sabri Gmach, WHO Field Officer, said that the benefit of the training was already evident. “The main aim of the first training session was to build capacity. It is vital that people work together and share skills and information. Already these training sessions are supporting Jordanian health care workers in the management of emergency aid, as they take the practical and theoretical knowledge they have learned out into the field”.