The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) International Health Regulations Strengthening Project (IHR-SP) Indo-Pacific Team has continued its work to strengthen the response to chemical events across Southeast Asia in partnership with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Network. Building on two earlier workshops – one held in February 2024 to asses the current capacity of ASEAN Member States (AMS) to respond to chemical events, and another in September 2024 to provide foundational chemical response training - a third workshop in the series was conducted in February 2025. This workshop aimed to enhance the capacity of AMS to recover from chemical events.

The workshop convened representatives of multisector stakeholders from all AMS and Timor Leste. Thirty five participants attended from relevant government agencies, among others: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Science, National Disaster Management, Fire and Rescue Department, and Safety and Health Authority.

The 3-day workshop was started through lectures on recovery from chemical emergencies or events. UKHSA technical advisers delivered materials on the foundations of recovery, planning and implementation of recovery and stakeholder mapping for recovery. The theoretical sessions were complemented with case studies and simulation exercises, which participants proactively discussed and raised questions. Representatives of the six participating AMS also presented real chemical incidents that were managed by relevant agencies in their countries, to share learning and activate discussion among AMS.

Of the 35 participants who attended the workshop, 31 (around 88.6%) provided feedback. All respondents agreed that the workshop was relevant to their job whilst 34 participants (97%) reported that it equipped them with knowledge and skills of chemical recovery. All feedback mentioned intention to apply knowledge they gained according to their country’s situation, among others by conducting mapping of relevant stakeholders and convening them to discuss, formulating legal framework, and reviewing and refining existing recovery plans or Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Ahmed Razavi, IHR-SP Indo-Pacific Regional Lead said: “These multisector workshops between ASEAN Member States provide a useful arena for knowledge, learning and experience exchange, helping build capacity across the region.  The IHR-SP Indo-Pacific team is committed to working with ASEAN in its efforts to better prevent, detect, respond to and recover from chemical events.”