Throughout the National School for Emergency Care (NSEC), NHC offers more than 18 standard courses accredited by the Lebanese Ministry of Education (MEHE) related to emergency care including (Emergency Medicine Techniques (EMT), basic and advanced life support, pediatric basic and advanced life support, Emergency preparedness, Disaster and crisis management, etc.). In addition, a wide range of tailored workshops, conferences and courses following international standards are organized and offered by NHC.
These courses are dedicated to nursing and medical staff, professionals, armed forces and the public (including youth, refugees, etc.)
It is worth noting that certificates from the ministry of education are provide – through NSEC – after the successful completion of training. The “National School for Emergency Care” is guided by International Standards and the impact of its certification remains valid outside Lebanon.

Examples of performed training and workshops include:

– Training on Emergency Medicine Techniques provided to nurses and physicians from various public hospitals in the north – within the Project “Mental Health Services and Psychosocial Support to Victims of Torture and War-trauma in T5/Akkar” – by RESTART, funded by UNHCR.

– Training on ER & ICU techniques for medical and nursing staff of the Human Call Association (HCA) in Ein El Helwe Camp (Human Call Association/UNDP project). It aims to Improve Living Condition in Palestinian Gathering Host Communities – Support emergency medical response in Ain Helwe Adjacent Areas.

– Emergency Medicine Techniques Training course for United Nations Health Care Center – Ethiopia (UNECA) Clinic staff to become EMT paramedic in charge of the ambulance.

– Basic as well as advanced life saving workshops (BLS, ACLS and ETAC) were
provided to nursing staff and physicians. BLS and first aid training was provided to security staff. These training were part of the recommendations for capacity building based on an assessment of needs.

– Emergency Response Course (ETB) provided at the UNECA – Ethiopia. The main objective is to train selected first aid responders from UNECA staff so they can provide adequate emergency medical treatment to UN personnel.

– BLS and pediatric first aid training provided Midwives throughout the country in collaboration with the syndicate of midwives in Lebanon. The main objective was capacity building of Lebanese midwives to provide efficient care especially in marginalized areas with the most vulnerable populations.

– Basic Life Support and Pediatric First Aid to nursing staff working at the nurseries. Sessions various geographic locations to reach staff from all nurseries registered in the syndicate of private nurseries owners.

– Collaboration with WHO started since the establishment of NHC and remains ongoing ever since especially with the evaluation feedback from the sessions provided by trainees toward NHC. In fact, with the constant need for continuous training, follow up on advanced training, as well as training for new recruited staff , NHC has provided throughout the years a wide range of workshops dedicated to Lebanese armed forces (the republican guard, the ministry of defense, the civil defense, security forces) with various background: physicians, nursing staff, paramedics, etc. These training sessions, from Emergency Medicine Techniques (EMT) and Basic Life Support (BLS) to moreadvanced including exclusive topics such Combat Lifesaver (CLS), Combat Medic Advanced Skills Training (CMAST) and Demining Medics Advanced Life Support (DMALS).

– Traffic Accident Investigations training provided with the support of WHO. The training of relevant first line responders (Internal security forces and sworn traffic experts) aims to promoting road safety and offering road victims with the optimal post-trauma care by providing trainees with relevant know-how & skills.

– CMR (Clinical Management of Rape) training to Internal Security Forces (ISF): This training was designed for ABAAD NGO and funded by UNICEF. It targeted more than 200 ISF agents. Training content was divided into 4 parts:
1. General information about SGBV: Survivors’ right, cultural believes, consequences on health, forensic evidence collection, emergency assessment of vital signs, etc….
2. How to deal with victims and witnesses: Receiving, listening, learning, linking, protecting
3. Role of the ISF agents (first responders and investigator): Way to investigate, material needed, logistics, etc.
4. How to manage the criminal scene and how to take evidence including forensic evidence: collaboration between forensic physician, ISF agents and the General Prosecutor.

– First Aid and Fire Safety Training provided to MAP (Medical Aid for Palestinian) staff members aiming to enhance their response to basic emergencies

– Health & Safety at home for mother action group with the support of World Vision.

– Customized training workshops on First Aid and Fire Safety in informal settlements and camps provided to refugees with the support of Oxfam.

– Furthermore, basic and advanced courses were provided to nursing and medical staff in private hospitals aiming at capacity building as a requirement for the accreditation and continuous education process. These are ongoing courses taking place in various hospitals including but not limited to Haroun hospital, Maritime Hospital, Mount Lebanon hospital, Batroun hospital, Baabda Governmental Hospital, Eye and ear hospital, etc.

– In addition to various training provided in schools, municipalities summer camps, etc.

Here are some of our projects:

– Assessment of impairments and disabilities amongst casualties suffered in august 4th 2020 Beirut blast in the affected hospitals – (WHO/MOPH project). The general objectives of this needs assessment mainly pertain to assessing the casualties who reached the hospitals in terms of injuries, hospital course and permanent disability. It aims at categorizing the type of injuries observed and identifying victims’ need, in particular follow up medical care.

– Post Disaster Rapid Hospital Assessment – (WHO project). The task main objective is to assess the damage that occurred in the most affected hospitals due to the Beirut port blast. It is intended to rapidly assess and document the damages that occurred in these hospitals and identify necessary repairs and equipment and supplies that must be repaired or replaced.

– Health Emergency Contingency Plans – at Governorate level (WHO/MoPH project). The main objective of these plans is to provide a framework for health emergency workers at the governorate level, a reliable tool for planning and implementing during training in readiness to face health emergencies.

– Assessment of referral mechanism – Primary to secondary health care including EmOCNC (UNFPA project). The purpose of this assessment is to contribute to the improvement of quality, efficient, timely and sustained referral mechanism from primary health care to secondary level including for emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmOCNC).

– Enhancing gender-mainstreaming within WFP livelihood programs – (WFP/ABAAD project) aiming to raise awareness among women and female youth in vulnerable communities (Lebanese and Syrian) on various health & safety topics, women and child health care, particularly on SRHR

– Health Education Information sessions within “Jina Al-Dar” – Gender equality program

– (ABAAD project) selected among the 10 most innovative initiatives worldwide
towards sustainable development goals. The objective of these sessions is to raise awareness of the women and girls on basic health, hygiene and first aid information, on a personal as well as family/household level. It also intends to provide these women and girls with a minimum level of efficient response towards common emergency cases.

– Establishment of a National Catastrophe Burn Plan for the Delivery of Care for Burn Patients in Lebanon – (USJ funded project). The study aims at gathering data concerning the care of burn patients in Lebanon. Based on the findings, a national burn plan will be drafted to standardize burn treatment.

– Media and Bioethics (UNESCO project). A 2-days workshop on “How to report
Bioethics in the Media?” was organized and provided by experts on Medical Law, ethics and journalists with the objective of :
1) Enhancing media & communication skills of media personnel in Lebanon and Syria on Bioethical issues
2) Allowing media personnel to appreciate the importance of the frameworks for reporting medical and bioethics issues. It was followed by development of “A Practical Guide for Reporting Bioethics in the Arab region”.

– Assessment of needs, developing policies and procedures and capacity building ofUNECA staff (UN Africa).

NHC publications include scientific specialized journals – the Mediterranean Journal of Emergency Medicine (MJEM)– a peer review indexed journal, and Panorama of Emergency Medicine (POEM). In addition, other NHC publications are dedicated to children and the public, that aim at raising awareness on public health topics, preventive lifesaving acts, and first aid response to emergencies.

Other publications include:

– The “Health Guideline Manual – simplified information and guidance to support families in times of humanitarian emergencies and crises”, developed in Arabic by New Health Concept – sal for ABAAD.

– The “Health Guide in case of Emergency” – simplified information and guidance to support families in times of humanitarian emergencies and crises”, developed in Arabic by New Health Concept – sal for Caritas funded by the Canadian government.

– “Électrocardiogramme simplifié – un guide pratique pour tous », Edition NHC and Sauramps Medical

– NGOs accreditation standards. Authored by Dr Rita Rhayem, MBA

It is to be noted that we can provide further details and/or support documents upon request.