The World Well being Group (WHO) wrapped up Train Polaris II, a 2-day high-level simulation train, primarily based round an outbreak of a fictional new bacterium spreading the world over. Bringing collectively 26 international locations and territories, 600 well being emergency consultants and over 25 companions, the train, which befell on 22 and 23 April, allowed international locations to check their preparedness for pandemics and different main well being emergencies, together with activating their emergency workforce constructions, info movement and coordination with one another, companions and WHO.
Constructing on the success of Polaris I held in April 2025, which centered on a fictional virus, every collaborating nation activated its emergency coordination construction and labored underneath real-life situations to share info, align insurance policies and surge their workforce.
“Train Polaris II confirmed what is feasible once we act collectively. It demonstrated that world cooperation will not be optionally available – it’s important,” stated Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-Common. “That is the aim of the World Well being Emergency Corps: coordination throughout the emergency workforce, constructing belief, strengthening connections, and dealing as one throughout borders.”
The simulation put two key WHO frameworks into observe, the World Well being Emergency Corps (GHEC) framework and the Nationwide well being emergency alert and response framework, and explored the usage of AI-enabled instruments to assist workforce group and planning.
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The GHEC framework, revealed in June 2025, offers steering on how international locations can strengthen their well being workforce to answer emergencies primarily based on the ideas of sovereignty, fairness and solidarity. It improves collaboration between international locations by supporting info alternate and strengthening the deployment of regional and world emergency personnel when wanted.
The Nationwide well being emergency alert and response framework, revealed in October 2025 outlines the important thing capabilities, coordination methods and actions wanted for an efficient response at native, sub-national and nationwide ranges.
“By simulating the unfold of a harmful pathogen underneath real-life situations, Train Polaris II helped us flip current plans into motion. It’s not sufficient to have plans on paper – what issues is how they carry out in observe,” stated Edenilo Baltazar Barreira Filho, Director of the Public Well being Emergencies Division, Ministry of Well being, Brazil.
The train additionally supplied a possibility to observe a coordinated provision of technical experience and surge assist to international locations from over 25 nationwide, regional and world well being businesses and organizations, together with Africa Centres for Illness Management and Prevention, the Worldwide Federation of Purple Cross and Purple Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières, Robert Koch Institute, UK-Med, UNICEF, and emergency networks such because the World Outbreak Alert and Response Community, the Emergency Medical Groups initiative, Standby Companions, and the Worldwide Affiliation of Nationwide Public Well being Institutes.
“Train Polaris II confirmed what it appears like when international locations are ready and able to act collectively,” stated Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Govt Director of WHO’s Well being Emergencies Programme. “This displays the spirit of the World Well being Emergency Corps: a well-organized, skilled, coordinated and related emergency workforce prepared to reply wherever and each time it’s wanted.”
The second version of the train noticed a bigger variety of international locations take part and collaborate by way of new networks such because the lately launched Well being Emergency Leaders Community for Africa and the Jap Mediterranean.
Train Polaris II is a part of HorizonX, WHO’s forward-looking, multi-year simulation train programme. It offers an important platform to operationalize and observe emergency frameworks underneath real-life situations, guaranteeing that collective readiness will not be a periodic effort, however a steady funding in world well being safety.
Notice to editors
Taking part international locations and territories masking all WHO areas included Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Colombia, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Georgia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo*, Libya, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Suriname, Thailand, and Yemen.
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*All references to Kosovo on this web page ought to be understood to be within the context of the United Nations Safety Council decision 1244 (1999).
About WHO
Devoted to the well-being of all individuals and guided by science, the World Well being Group leads and champions world efforts to provide everybody, all over the place an equal probability at a secure and wholesome life. We’re the United Nations’ company for well being that connects nations, companions and other people on the entrance traces in 150+ areas – main the world’s response to well being emergencies, stopping illness, addressing the foundation causes of well being points and increasing entry to medicines and well being care. Our mission is to advertise well being, maintain the world secure and serve the susceptible. “Collectively for well being. Stand with science”, the theme of World Well being Day 2026 marks a year-long marketing campaign to spotlight science as the muse for shielding well being and well-being worldwide.