The United Arab Emirates has initiated the second phase of the Syrian-Emirati Medical Preparedness and Response Programme, known as Jaheziya Syria, aimed at strengthening collaboration between Syrian and Emirati healthcare institutions. This development follows the successful completion of the programme’s initial phase, during which over 400 frontline healthcare workers received training.

Jaheziya Syria seeks to enhance the capabilities of medical, surgical, nursing, and emergency personnel across both nations by establishing an integrated system based on international best practices. The programme’s curriculum is accredited by prominent training centers and universities in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Its overarching goal is to improve the Syrian healthcare sector’s effectiveness in managing emergencies, crises, and disasters by training and qualifying 10,000 frontline healthcare workers over the next five years.

The initiative targets healthcare professionals operating within both public and private sectors. Its training framework is jointly developed by the Jaheziya Academy, the European Center for Disaster Medicine, as well as specialized institutions from the UAE, the United States, and Europe, ensuring alignment with global standards.

The launch was formally announced at a press conference where a strategic memorandum of understanding was signed between the Syrian Ministry of Health and Jaheziya Academy. Dr. Iyad Baath, Director General of the Syrian Commission for Medical Specialties, noted that the programme commenced with a three-month pilot phase that trained 200 healthcare professionals. He also mentioned the establishment of a joint committee between the Ministry of Health and Jaheziya Academy to oversee management and operations, as well as to focus on developing national capacities aimed at sustaining training efforts and enhancing hospital preparedness and emergency response.

Dr. Asaad Sharafeddin, Director of the Syria Medical Preparedness and Response Programme, highlighted that the initiative fosters partnerships between healthcare entities, draws on international expertise, and supports broader healthcare sector development. He underlined that the programme follows a five-year operational plan using specialized curricula tailored for critical medical response.

From the UAE perspective, Dr. Adel Al Shamry Al Ajami, Chief Executive Officer of the UAE National Preparedness and Response Programme, emphasized that their established training system contributed to building the competencies of more than 20,000 frontline healthcare professionals across government and private hospitals in the UAE, substantially improving emergency readiness. The Syrian-Emirati collaboration aims to replicate and adapt this model to enhance the resilience and responsiveness of Syrian healthcare services.