Europe Asia News

Ghebreyesus stated that last weekend, WHO brought together more than 350 experts from 15 countries to test a new initiative for the first time.

He explained that during the two-day simulation called the Polaris Exercise, the WHO Global Health Emergency Corps — a framework designed to strengthen national emergency personnel, coordinate the deployment of response teams and experts, and enhance international collaboration — was tested.

"The exercise simulated the outbreak of a fictional virus spreading across the world. It was a rare opportunity for governments to test their preparedness in a realistic environment, where trust and mutual accountability are just as critical as speed and capacity. The Polaris Exercise reaffirmed that all countries must continue investing in emergency health personnel and scalable mechanisms that can expand rapidly and in a coordinated manner during crises."