PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING MASS GATHERINGS AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS: A LANGKAWI INTERNATIONAL MARITIME AND AEROSPACE (LIMA) 2023 CASE

Abstract

The Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2023 provided a unique opportunity to evaluate public health strategies for managing mass gatherings and international events. This article analyzed and documented the public health strategies implemented during LIMA 2023. The event, which attracted attendants from more than 30 countries, presented significant public health challenges due to its magnitude and the diversity of participants. A comprehensive approach to resource management was implemented during the planning phase, which included site preparation, resource allocation, and personnel organization. Surveillance systems operating prior to, during, and after the event further facilitated this. Critical strategies for the management of communicable diseases encompassed heightened vector control, efficient international health regulation strategies, and improved surveillance systems. We further emphasized disaster preparedness and response by implementing comprehensive emergency response plans, conducting thorough exercises, and collaborating with nearby healthcare facilities. Environmental health management, which emphasized sanitation, tobacco control, and food and water safety, was also crucial. The provision of healthcare services encompassed mental health support, on-site medical facilities, and collaboration with nearby institutions. The focus of health promotion and education endeavors was on food safety, heat-related ailments, and infectious diseases. Efficient communication strategies facilitated the smooth distribution of information among relevant parties. The efficacy of these public health strategies in their implementation at LIMA 2023 serves as a testament to the significance of all-encompassing, synchronized methodologies in overseeing health and safety during sizable assemblies—convincingly instructive material for forthcoming large-scale gatherings.

Keywords: public health, mass gatherings, international events, LIMA, Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition