Acute Care

Acute Care Training

Laerdal Global Health and the WHO Foundation will fund WHO to scale up acute care training for health workers across several African countries. This includes WHO Basic Emergency Care (BEC) training as well as specially designed training kits for ongoing workplace-based training.

What is our goal? 

Laerdal Global Health has announced a $12.5 million commitment that will:

• Fund WHO Basic Emergency Care (BEC) training in 400 hospitals across three African countries,
• Deliver specially designed training kits for ongoing workplace-based training.

Our goal now is to to reach $25 million in contributions and bring this program to 1,000 hospitals in five or more countries, saving an estimated 50,000 lives every year. We hope Laerdal Global Health’s initial contribution will inspire more private and public partners to get in touch with us and discuss how they could join this cause to save lives.

Why we need Basic Emergency Care (BEC)?

27m

Deaths due emergency conditions in 2019

34-50%

Reduction in mortality due to BEC training

25%

Global percentage of nurses & midwives that have BEC training

What is Basic Emergency Care (BEC)?

Basic Emergency Care (BEC) is a simple, structured training program created by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help health workers quickly recognize and manage emergencies. It helps doctors, nurses, and ambulance staff respond confidently in situations involving breathing problems, shock, injuries, or changes in mental state.

BEC training teaches a clear step-by-step method to handle common emergencies, such as accidents, infections, mental health crises, and pregnancy complications. It’s practical for many different environments, from hospitals to emergency situations like natural disasters or conflicts.

Learn more about Basic Emergency Care here.

Delivery of Basic Emergency Care Training

5

Days it takes to provide BEC training

18

Modules created to deliver the training

What is at risk?

Scaling up acute care is urgent because up to half of deaths in low- and middle‑income countries could be prevented with basic emergency treatment. Without rapid expansion of programs like Basic Emergency Care (BEC), countless patients suffering from pneumonia, traumatic injuries, diabetic emergencies, severe bleeding after childbirth, and other acute conditions risk dying needlessly. Failing to act means lifesaving care remains out of reach for millions.

How can you help? 

The WHO Foundation and Laerdal Global Health have also established a funding consortium – Lifeline: the Acute Care Action Fund – and are already in active discussions with other private and public partners to reach a total of $25M to bring this program to 1,000 hospitals in five or more countries, saving an estimated 50,000 lives every year. We are asking:

• Join other philanthropic and corporate partners and fund this life-saving training and tools. 
• Support the WHO Foundation in reaching its goal of $25 million.
• Learn about what it will take to expand Basic Emergency Care to more countries.

Speak to

our team

The power and potential of the WHO Foundation comes from its people. We are mission and values-driven and hold ourselves accountable for aligning our actions to our values.

Vanessa Rousselle

Portfolio Manager

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