PAHO and Ministry of Health Begin 2026 Mass Casualty Management Training Series with ERHA in Trinidad and Tobago

Port-of-Spain, 8 April 2026 (PAHO): Imagine being on the front line of a mass casualty incident, where every action counts and the situation continues well into the night. This immersive experience defined the final simulation exercise of the Mass Casualty Management (MCM) training for the Eastern Regional Health Authority, offering participants a realistic and demanding test of preparedness and coordination.

The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Trinidad and Tobago Country office (PAHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), has initiated a national series of Mass Casualty Management (MCM) training workshops for public health teams, aimed at strengthening Trinidad and Tobago's preparedness for large-scale emergencies.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) hosted the first training session in the 2026 series, which took place from 23-28 March 2026 at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, Tamana Campus. This intensive six-day programme brought together key healthcare and emergency response personnel to enhance coordination, decision-making, and operational readiness during mass casualty incidents.

The training combined theoretical instruction, tabletop exercises, and hands-on practical simulations, following the standardized PAHO Mass Casualty Management model. Participants included medical and nursing staff, emergency medical services personnel, disaster coordinators, and other critical responders, reflecting the multi-sectoral approach required during major emergencies.

Over the course of the workshop, participants engaged in sessions covering topics such as incident command systems, triage principles, hospital reception and disaster planning, risk communication, ethical and medico-legal considerations, psychological first aid, and the management of complex hazards including infectious diseases and hurricanes. Field and simulation exercises provided opportunities to apply these principles in realistic scenarios, reinforcing teamwork and communication under pressure.

The training was facilitated by certified regional trainer Peter Burgess, whose expertise ensured adherence to the PAHO MCM model and enhanced the quality and sustainability of the programme.

This training forms part of a broader 2026 national MCM capacity-building programme, which will include workshops hosted across all the Regional Health Authorities, with an estimated 300 healthcare and emergency response personnel trained nationwide by year-end. The programme supports the Ministry of Health's mandate to institutionalize mass casualty preparedness across the health system, while promoting standardized practices and stronger inter-agency collaboration.

PAHO's support for the initiative underscores its ongoing collaboration with national authorities to strengthen health emergency preparedness and response capacities, in line with regional and global health security priorities.

As the first in this national series, the ERHA workshop sets the foundation for continued learning, coordination, and preparedness across Trinidad and Tobago's health sector, ensuring that frontline responders are better equipped to protect lives and maintain essential health services during major emergencies.