Port of Spain, 10 July 2026 (PAHO): The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, continued its national rollout of Mass Casualty Management (MCM) training with a comprehensive workshop hosted by the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex.
As the second in a series of training sessions being conducted across Trinidad and Tobago's Regional Health Authorities during 2026, the workshop brought together healthcare professionals, emergency responders, disaster coordinators, and key stakeholders to strengthen the country's capacity to respond effectively to major emergencies and mass casualty incidents.
Large-scale emergencies demand more than clinical expertise. They require seamless coordination, effective communication, rapid decision-making, and the ability to manage limited resources under challenging conditions. The MCM programme is designed to build these competencies through a structured approach that combines classroom learning, tabletop exercises, practical demonstrations, and realistic simulation scenarios.
Facilitated by certified regional trainer Peter Burgess, the programme follows the standardized PAHO Mass Casualty Management model, which promotes a coordinated and scalable response to disasters, public health emergencies, and other large-scale incidents. The training also supports the Ministry of Health's ongoing efforts to institutionalize mass casualty preparedness throughout the national health system.
Training sessions and tabletop exercises were employed. Additionally, interactive exercises provided opportunities for participants to apply these principles in real-world situations, reinforcing teamwork and strengthening operational readiness.
Some of the NWRHA workshop participants during the theory training sessions
Throughout the training, participants explored critical aspects of emergency response, including incident command systems, triage procedures, patient evacuation and transport, hospital disaster planning, risk communication, psychological first aid, and the management of complex hazards.
The NWRHA team prepares for the simulation exercise
The 2026 Mass Casualty Management Training Series forms part of broader national efforts to ensure that healthcare workers and emergency responders are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to respond effectively when lives are at stake. It also seeks to enhance health emergency preparedness and strengthen resilience in Trinidad and Tobago.
