Responding to disasters [in the zone]

Prof Bruce Robinson

Uni of Western Australia

International Skills & Training Institute in Health - ISTIH

The problem

Aceh etc 2004

Nias 2005

Pakistan 2005

China 2008

Jogjakarta 2006

Sumatra 2009

Bali 2005

Jakarta 2009

2008- 321 disasters- killed 235,816 people- affected 211 million others- cost a $US181 billion

Most of these disasters are occuring in this zone

Disasters

80% of the world's worst natural disasters of the 20th and 21st centuries [earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, typhoons] occured in this region. CBS

“Opportunity to help & the moral obligation to do so”

Effects of disasters

Death

Disasters killed 750,000 people in southeast Asia in last 10 years

• Injury• Diseases• Displacement• Economic loss• Psychological

Other effects of disasters

Most of the victims of disasters are the survivors

Who can respond to a disaster?

Local = immediate but limited emergency and disaster response skills

National - impossible to begin work before 48 hours

International

- uncertain, not always appropriate, delayed by days to weeks

What are we doing to improve this situation?

Solution #1.

Improved international response

$52 million rapid deployment of Australian civilians

• health services• electricity and water • administration

Solution #2.

Improved local response

Local response

• first 2 days post-disaster = critical window - trauma - wound/fracture infections - inhaled tsunami water etc

• depends upon the capacity of the local services

• good local emergency skills provides daily benefit (& practice!)

Practice and serve day-to-day (eg. motor vehicle accidents, medical emergencies etc). - Jakarta = >2000 deaths pa. from motor vehicle accidents - 74.8% delayed i.e. potentially preventable

Additional advantages of developing a strong local response

• better links with police, fire, military• local pride and dignity • sustainable programs (‘owned’)• local customs understood

Where are we at now?

UWA, Curtin Uni, Health DeptChair – Prof M Henderson

- ‘train the trainer’NB. not just in emergency/disasters

- team of experienced experts from WA and other parts of Australia

- international partnerships eg. University of Indonesia + others

International Skills and Training Institute in Health.

Ausaid contracts in Emergency Medicine and Disaster Preparedness [Banda Aceh, Darwin and Perth]

Locations of ISTIH exec activities

Who can respond?

Local = immediate but limited skills

National - impossible to begin work before 48 hours

International

- uncertain, not always appropriate, delayed by days to weeks

Goal – to develop the emergency response capabilities of local agencies.

Strategydevelop Emergency/Disaster Skills Training Centres aimed at trainers - partnership with local agencies - latest approaches

- simulation/ computing

- educational/technological

Repeated visits necessary. - training - reinforcement - relationships

Being ‘in the zone’ makes this easier.

- 118 Foundation

- Indonesian College

of Surgeons

- NGOs

RSCM FKUI

+ team, CTEC

= Skills Centre

We have

- Experienced teams- University support- Some equipment eg. from the Indonesian govt- Relationships in 7 countries in the region- Long term commitment

We needFunding - $500k pa for 5 years(eg. 5 x$100k pa. over 5 years) - Training programs - Software development - Some equipment

Make it core business!

What might you be able to do to help?

Thank you

www.istih.org

Why?