The leading role of expert safety knowledge in supporting the mission of caring for patients during man-made and natural disasters: state of emergency medicine in Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Ukraine

Abstract Preparedness to endure extreme situations such as natural disasters or military conflicts is not commonplace in healthcare training programs. Moreover, multidisciplinary teams in health services rarely (if ever) include experts in security. However, when emergency situations occur, prevaili...

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Dades bibliogràfiques
Autors principals: Ralph C. Miles, Vivian I. Avelino-Silva, Wilfred Odoke, Jan van den Hombergh, Fernanda F. Fonseca, Mengistu GebreMichael, Yaroslava Lopatina, Win Oo, Adele Schwartz Benzaken
Format: Article
Idioma:English
Publicat: BMC 2024-03-01
Col·lecció:International Journal of Emergency Medicine
Matèries:
Accés en línia:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00609-1
Descripció
Sumari:Abstract Preparedness to endure extreme situations such as natural disasters or military conflicts is not commonplace in healthcare training programs. Moreover, multidisciplinary teams in health services rarely (if ever) include experts in security. However, when emergency situations occur, prevailing healthcare demands do not cease to exist, and unexpected demands often surge due to the shortage of other services and supplies or as a consequence of the emergency condition itself. With services in 45 countries, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has operated in several conflict zones, facing broad and challenging security demands. Since 2017 AHF has implemented the Global Department of Safety and Security (GDSS), a dedicated intelligence and safety program that had a key role in the security monitoring, preparedness, and defense responses, assisting staff members and clients during recent conflicts. In this manuscript, we describe the experience of AHF’s GDSS in three recent military conflicts in Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Ukraine, and provide insights into steps that can be taken to assure staff safety and support the mission of caring for patients throughout catastrophic events.
ISSN:1865-1380