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Baku, Azerbaijan, has increasingly become the venue for large-scale international sports and cultural events.
The World Health Organization (WHO) technical team visited Azerbaijan on October 26–30, 2014, the WHO website said Nov.19.
The aim of the WHO team’s visit was to help the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities establish measures to protect the health of participants, spectators and the general public during such mass gatherings.
The immediate aim was to support implementation of public health protection efforts related to the first Global Forum on Youth Policies, which took place in Baku from October 28-30, 2014.
A longer-term objective was to help prepare for the European Games, to be held in Baku on June 12–28, 2015. Over 6000 athletes will compete in this first major European multisport event.
The WHO team met with representatives of the organizing committee, the director of Athlete Services and Operations and representatives of the medical team of the Baku 2015 European Games to discuss public health preparedness, WHO recommendations for public health measures during mass gathering events and overall preparation for this major event.
The partners also reviewed recommendations made last year during a preliminary WHO assessment mission in September 2013 requested by Azerbaijan.
The team concluded that Azerbaijan has prepared its medical services well, including for the prevention and control of highly infectious diseases, the statement said.
WHO will, however, continue to work closely with the authorities in Azerbaijan to support further training of medical personnel on infection control, personal protection and handling of highly infectious material during sample taking, transport and testing, said the statement.
Baku was honored to hold the first European Games by the European Olympic Committee (EOC) in December 2012. Operational Committee for the European Games 2015 in Baku (BEGOC) will take over the organization and management of the European Games in collaboration with the European Olympic Committee.
Trend.az
