Background
With summer 2025 expected to bring new global temperature records, the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events poses an urgent challenge to public health—particularly in the context of mass gatherings (MGs). From cultural festivals to religious pilgrimages, and from national elections to major sporting events, millions will gather outdoors under potentially hazardous environmental conditions.
In this webinar, countries actively preparing for large-scale public events —Malaysia, Mexico and Tanzania— will share their approaches to risk assessment, surveillance, and community engagement in the face of extreme heat. The session will also serve as part of WHO’s Beat the Heat flagship initiative, aimed at protecting health during heat events and building cross-country collaboration on climate-resilient mass gathering planning.
Objectives
- To explore heat preparedness strategies for upcoming MGs in diverse regional contexts,
- To highlight lessons learned from past events and current planning,
- To showcase intersectoral coordination, RCCE strategies, and surveillance innovations,
- To position the webinar as part of the broader Beat the Heat initiative and support global dialogue.
Speakers
Welcome, housekeeping & introduction: WHO EPI-WIN – Science & Knowledge Translation
Opening remarks: Nedret Emiroglu, Director, WHO
Setting the stage: Why extreme heat at MGs is a growing concern: Andreas Flouris, Professor of Physiology, University of Thessaly, Greece
Country perspectives:
Malaysia: Thahirahtul Asma' Bt. Zakaria, Senior Principle Assistant Director, MOH Malaysia
Mexico: Yaneth Fortunata Lopez Santiago, Director of Epidemiological Surveillance of Non-Communicable Diseases, MoH Mexico
Tanzania: Yussuf Sadi, Case management and IPC team lead, MoH Zanzibar
WHO Update on Heat-health in EURO and public health advice for MGs: Marisol Yglesias Gonzalez, Technical Officer for Climate Change Adaptation and Health, WHO EURO, and Petra Hongell, Risk Communications Officer, WHO EURO
Q&A with speakers and experts:
Moderator: Amaia Artazcoz Glaria, Technical Officer, Border Health and Mass Gatherings Unit, WHO
Country and regional speakers, Ivan Ivanov, Lead, Occupational and Workplace Health, WHO, and Joanna Esteves Mills, Technical Officer, WASH, WHO
Key takeaways for future MGs and closing remarks: Ninglan Wang, Unit Head, Border Health and Mass Gatherings, WHO
Closing: WHO EPI-WIN – Science & Knowledge Translation