Project 087: PRECA - Preparedness and Response for Mass Gatherings and other Health Threats in Central Asia

Context

Mass gatherings can have tangible benefits, but COVID-19 showed that they can threaten human health and present risks such as food or water poisoning, CBRN incidents, and overwhelmed emergency services due to high demand for medical, security, and logistical support. In an era of increasing global connectivity, ensuring public health and safety at large-scale events is more crucial than ever. This project presents a series of activities that will strengthen and empower mass gathering health preparedness and response in the region.

Overall objective

This project aims to improve health security in Central Asia by preparing for and responding to different threats during mass gatherings. It focuses on food and water safety, handling chemical incidents by setting up Poisons Information Centres, and enhancing public health Command, Control, and Communication (C3) systems.

Specific objectives

• To strengthen national and regional preparedness and response for mass gatherings by training health and emergency professionals on food and water safety, chemical incidents, and public health command, control and communication.
• To support the establishment of Poisons Information Centres that provide fast, expert advice during toxicological emergencies, easing hospital burdens and enhancing response to chemical exposures during large events.
• To improve practical readiness through simulation exercises that test emergency response plans, coordination protocols, and technical capabilities under real-world mass gathering scenarios.
• To equip Partner Countries with tools and resources, such as rapid food and water testing kits, portable chemical detectors, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to support swift and safe responses.
• To foster national, regional, and international cooperation by establishing Regional Working Groups and organising EU study visits that facilitate cross-border knowledge exchange, strengthen institutional partnerships, and promote shared public health practices.

Concrete activities

• Training programmes on food and water safety, chemical incident response, and public health C3.
• Risk and Media Communication trainings.
• Establishment of Regional Working Groups with the representatives from Partner Countries.
• Support of the creation of Poisons Information Centres.
• Practical simulation exercise with mass gathering scenario.
• Supply of equipment and materials requested by Partner Countries.
• EU study visit for project participants.

Expected results

• Enhanced national and regional capacities to manage health risks during mass gatherings.
• Improved regional cooperation and a shared understanding of common challenges.
• Increased preparedness for CBRN incidents.
• Strengthened risk and crisis communication strategies.

Achievements

• Implemented a “train-the-trainer” workshop, enabling national-level training and sustainability of knowledge transfer, training over 1,000 specialists in Partner Countries on food and water safety, chemical incident response, and public health command, control, and communication systems.
• Formed Regional Working Groups that brought together public health and emergency experts across Central Asia, strengthening regional cooperation and trust through knowledge exchange, institutional partnerships, and coordinated action plans.
• Members of the Regional Working Groups collaboratively developed Regional Guidance documents to support stakeholders in preparing for large-scale mass gathering events.
• Supported the establishment of Poisons Information Centres in Islamabad, Pakistan and in Astana, Kazakhstan to improve emergency response.
• Established cooperation with the National Poisons Information Service UK, who provided access to TOXBASE, primary clinical toxicology database of UK, to clinical toxicologists in Partner Countries.
• Conducted a Risk and Media Communication Training for 66 experts from Partner Countries.
• Conducted national and regional simulation exercises to test real-time emergency preparedness and improve inter-agency coordination.
• Provided equipment to Partner Countries, including rapid test kits for food and water quality, portable chemical detectors for on-site incident assessment, PPE and IT tools (laptops, computers, conference systems).
• Organised EU study visits to Ireland and Germany, allowing participants to engage with top institutions.