Very shortly after the Great Earthquake and Tsunami struck off the coast of Sumatra on 26 Dec last year, AMDA can be proud to say that we managed, in the three countries of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India, to institute an emergency network, consisting of AMDA's Multinational Medical Mission (with participants from chapters in 10 countries), and the Sri Lanka Project Dispatch Team etc., with this advantage, to undertake effective emergency relief.
This is a medium to long term project now going into full-time operation from June in Banda Aceh (Aceh Province, Indonesia) in the north of Sumatra Island where most damage was received, being closest to the epicenter. Our coordinator, Natsuko Kaneyama, who has been engaged in emergency work in Banda Aceh since January, will continue to live there and work on the project. On 17 May a meeting was held locally with, among others, the Head of the Committee for The Implementation of Indonesian Rescue and Emergency Medical Training and various people involved in reconstruction aid projects, with the one aim of starting up AMDA Indonesia's Tsunami Rehabilitation Project.
AMDA dispatched a Japanese anesthetist on 2 June to take a leadership role in organizing things at Zainoel Abidin Hospital, (the largest hospital in Banda Aceh) which will act as the centre of activities.
<Rehabilitation Project for Post-Tsunami Indonesia>
Cooperating Participants:
- AMDA Indonesia Chapter (South Sulawesi, Indonesia)
- Aceh Province, Banda Aceh Department of Health, Zainoel Abidin Hospital, and Syiah Kuala University.
- South Sulawesi Province, Makassar Department of Health, Wahidin Hospital, and Hasannudin University.
1. Programme for the Training of Medical Staff
Aim: To deepen specialist knowledge and strengthen clinical experience of Doctors and Nurses serving in emergency medicine.
Contents:
1. Fostering growth of Specialist Anesthetists
2. Emergency Medical Training (for Nurses)
3. Combined training courses for Government Departments of Medicine and Health in preparation for Emergencies.
4. Training for Management of Emergency situations (for Public Health Specialists)
2. Programme for Strengthening Ability of Local Community to Cope when Disaster Strikes.
Aim: To strengthen the ability of the populace at the local level to deal with disasters, and also to help them prevent infectious diseases after such disasters.
Contents:
For Medical Students. Training for Emergencies, Practice in Evacuation Drill, Public Health Education in issues such as Prevention against Infectious Diseases after Disasters.
Upon completion of the course, Medical Students will be able to undertake Emergency Escape Procedure and Public Hygiene Education with local residents at places of possible refuge. At the same time, they will also be able to run the mobile library as part of the programme for healing the suffering of children, and to conduct a Mobile Health Education Clinic.
Summary of Current Relief Personnel: Total 121 (65 Doctors, 15 Nurses, 1 Pharmacist, 39 Coordinators, 1 social worker)
*with additional group of 120 medical students and lecturer
Contact:
AMDA - Association of Medical Doctors
of Asia
310-1 Narazu, Okayama City, Japan 701-1202
Tel 81-86-284-7730 Fax 81-86-284-8959
Email: member@amda.or.jp