Enhancing Emergency Preparedness through Simulation Exercise in Preah Sihanouk Province: A Mini-Grant Success Story by FETP Graduate, Mr. Khan Oudom Phaktra

Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia - June 3, 2025 - Mr. Khan Oudom Phaktra, a graduate of the Cambodia Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) Intermediate Course Cohort 1 and Surveillance Officer at the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Health Department, successfully implemented a simulation exercise on emergency preparedness and response to respiratory infection outbreaks through support from the FETP/AET/CAVET Mini-Grant Program.

Mr. Phaktra's project was inspired by recommendations from his FETP fieldwork, which identified gaps in outbreak response coordination and communication at the provincial level. Using the World Health Organization (WHO) Simulation Exercise (SimEx) Guidelines, the project aimed to strengthen coordination and communication among public health teams during emergencies.

With support from the mini-grant, a one-day tabletop simulation exercise (TTX) was conducted at the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Health Department. The activity brought together 25 participants from the Provincial Health Department, Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), and hospital Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) committees.

Through six progressive scenarios - from the initial detection of respiratory infection cases to the vaccine rollout phase - participants practiced real-time decision-making, coordination, and communication under simulated outbreak conditions.

The exercise resulted in stronger inter-departmental communication, better understanding of standard operating procedures, and improved timeliness of information sharing between surveillance units and health facilities. It also revealed areas for further improvement, including refresher training on IPC, clearer case definitions, and strengthened risk communication and vaccine management.

"The small grant allowed me to turn my fieldwork recommendations into practical action," shared Mr. Phaktra. "It helped our team identify real gaps and improve coordination before an actual outbreak occurs."

This initiative - supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through SAFETYNET and the Cambodia FETP - demonstrates how empowering FETP graduates to act on their recommendations contributes to a more responsive and resilient public health system in Cambodia.