As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen Gulf health security and enhance the preparedness of GCC countries to respond to epidemics and public health emergencies, the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control, in collaboration with the World Health Organization – Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, the Gulf Health Council, and the Ministry of Health of the State of Kuwait, organized the Regional Workshop on Institutionalization and Sustainability of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) Programs for Disease Outbreaks in the GCC countries.
The workshop was hosted by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health and held in Kuwait City from 7 to 9 October 2025, with the participation of representatives from all GCC member states, along with several regional and international experts.
The workshop aimed to enhance regional coordination among GCC countries and strengthen their readiness for effective response to disease outbreaks and epidemics through the discussion of best practices and the development of strategic plans that ensure the sustainability of RRTs and their integration within national institutional structures in each country.
It also focused on building national capacities and developing unified operational mechanisms, including continuous training, knowledge exchange, and strengthening the integration between health, security, and environmental sectors to ensure a swift response and reduce the impact of health crises on Gulf communities.
This workshop comes within the framework of the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control’s efforts to promote a joint GCC approach in disease prevention and emergency response, and to foster collaboration with regional and international partners to achieve preparedness and sustainability within public health systems.