The School of Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens coordinated the transnational meeting of the European project RISK-E-SCAPE – ‘Improving Disaster Health and Climate Resilience at the Expanded Environmental Crisis in Nepal and Bangladesh’, which took place in Pokhara, Nepal, from 4 to 7 February 2025, hosted by the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Pokhara University, Dr Amar Nagila.
Chaired by Professor of General Surgery, Dr Emmanouil Pikoulis, the meeting brought together prominent partners from Universities in Asia—Pokhara University, Kathmandu University, University of Dhaka, Independent University, Bangladesh—as well as from Europe—Università degli Studi di Salerno, Fundação Ensino e Cultura Fernando Pessoa.
The aim is to develop an innovative, international, postgraduate-level educational programme for healthcare professionals in Nepal and Bangladesh, concentrating on the healthcare-related management of environmental risks.
During the proceedings, the delegates discussed innovative approaches in disaster health, climate resilience, and crisis management education. The event received widespread media coverage in Nepal, showcasing the global importance of this initiative and the need to strengthen health systems and accelerate progress towards the joint management of environmental crises.
RISK-E-SCAPE (Project ID: 101083080) is a European Commission-funded KA2 Erasmus+ project seeking to enhance crisis management capabilities at an interdisciplinary level. It focuses on developing skills essential for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery while strengthening cooperation between Universities across Europe and Asia.
According to Professor Emmanouil Pikoulis, the School of Medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens remains committed to promoting teaching, research, and innovation, thereby contributing to the resilience of communities against contemporary challenges related to disasters and climate change. The School provides expertise in designing and implementing educational programmes with an emphasis on humanitarian crises management and emergency healthcare in low-resource settings.
