Responding to disasters [in the zone] Prof Bruce Robinson Uni of Western Australia

1. Responding to disasters [in the zone] Prof Bruce Robinson Uni of Western Australia International Skills & Training Institute in Health - ISTIH

2. The problem

5. Aceh etc 2004

7. Pakistan 2005 Nias 2005

8. China 2008 Jogjakarta 2006

9. Sumatra 2009

11. Jakarta 2009 Bali 2005

12. 2008 - 321 disasters - killed 235,816 people - affected 211 million others - cost a $US181 billion

13. Most of these disasters are occuring in this zone

14. “Opportunity to help & the moral obligation to do so” Disasters 80% of the world's worst natural disasters of the 20th and 21st centuries [earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, typhoons] occured in this region. CBS

15. Effects of disasters Death Disasters killed 750,000 people in southeast Asia in last 10 years

16. Other effects of disasters • Injury • Diseases • Displacement • Economic loss • Psychological Most of the victims of disasters are the survivors

18. 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

19. What are we doing to improve this situation?

20. Solution #1.Improved international response

21. $52 million • rapid deployment of Australian civilians • health services • electricity and water • administration

22. Solution #2.Improved local response

23. 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!)

24. 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

25. Additional advantages of developing a strong local response • better links with police, fire, military • local pride and dignity • sustainable programs (‘owned’) • local customs understood

26. Where are we at now?

27. International Skills and Training Institute in Health. UWA, Curtin Uni, Health Dept Chair – 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

28. Locations of ISTIH exec activities Ausaid contracts in Emergency Medicine and Disaster Preparedness [Banda Aceh, Darwin and Perth]

29. 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

30. 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

31. Repeated visits necessary. - training - reinforcement - relationshipsBeing ‘in the zone’ makes this easier.

32. RSCM FKUI - 118 Foundation - Indonesian College of Surgeons - NGOs + team, CTEC = Skills Centre

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

35. What might you be able to do to help? 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!

36. Why? www.istih.org Thank you