The Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC), Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal with the technical support from WHO Country Office and Regional Office conducted a Simulation Exercise from 21 – 24 September 2022 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The simulation included a two-day functional exercise followed by one day field simulation exercise.
The simulation exercise was participated by over 575 participants from 18 facilities/organizations. More than 750 injects and simulated emails were sent during the conduct of the exercise. Around 13 facilitators were trained and mentored during the planning and implementation of the SimEx to conduct further annual exercises for provincial HEOCs. The simulation included participants from:
- Ministry of Health and Population, Kathmandu, Nepal
- National Emergency Operation Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Health Emergency Operation Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Department of Health Services, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Provincial Health Emergency Operation Centre (PHEOC), Bagmati Province, Nepal
- National Public Health Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Ambulance Dispatch Centre, HEOC, Nepal
- Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Patan Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal
- Civil Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Dhulikhel University Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital Kathmandu, Nepal
- Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Additional contributors included the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, Nepal.
The main objectives of the SimEx were to strengthen response coordination led by central and provincial HEOCs, hub and satellite hospitals, clinical and public health facilities, emergency medical teams (EMDTs), rapid response teams (RRTs), emergency medical services, and to train and guide facilitators for future simulations and exercises at the sub-national level.
The scenario of earthquake was chosen, given Nepal is eleventh most risk-prone country in the world for earthquakes and country is located on an active seismic belt. The design included a 7.8 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in Barabishe, Sindulpalchok district, Bagmati, and four-time jumps to support the different disaster response requirements over time. The overlay to the scenario included the ongoing COVID-19 and Dengue outbreaks. In addition, trauma and other disease outbreaks, such as acute watery diarrhoea, were presented at the appropriate time.
- Day 1 of the exercise addressed the first 12 hours of response to the earthquake,
- Day 2 of the exercise commenced participants to the 3rd day from the earthquake with a second time jump at midday, propelling the participants forward to the 7th day of operations.
- Day 3 of the exercise began on day 17 from impact with acute event of stadium falling down during an fund-raising event.