(A306) Primary Care in the First 72 Hours Post Disaster: A Crazy Idea or a Sensible Inclusion for Foreign Medical Teams?

Abstract

The use and number of Foreign Field hospitals and Foreign Medical Teams being mobilized after sudden onset disasters in the past decade has increased significantly. Examples include Haiti (2010), China (2008) Pakistan (2005), and Iran (2003). Foreign medical teams do not just work in field hospitals anymore and new trends of how FMTs are engaged need to be taken into consideration. After sudden impact disasters, there is undoubtedly a high need for surgical response. The role of primary care, immediately after a disaster or emergency has sometimes been described as low priority and therefore not needed during the initial response to disasters and emergencies. This oral presentation will review trends in the primary care needs post disaster and the literature around it. Using the Health Resource Availability Mapping System (a model that is derived from the standard health cluster tool and used for collection, collation and analysis of health sector information) and modified to sudden onset disasters, which primary health services when will be reviewed. Discussion and brainstorming encouraged!