Emergency preparedness of the health workforce for primary health care facilities

ABSTRACT

A health-care facility without a trained and competent health workforce cannot save lives of the victims. Therefore, for immediate response after a disaster or any serious epidemic outbreak, a health-care facility in the vicinity with trained health personnel is a basic requirement. One of the major components of the theme for this yearÆs World Health Day ôHealth Facilities in Emergenciesö is improving the preparedness and risk-reduction capacity of health workers. Health workers should possess two types of capacities general capacities such as for rapid health assessment; emergency relief; mass casualty management; curative care; and public health, and specific capacities such as for emergency surgical skills and advance life support, etc. Disaster management is not only a health sector responsibility, but is also a multisectoral one at different levels. Intra-health agency coordination is also vital to scale up the rapid response. Preparedness of the health workforce is part of the emergency preparedness and disaster response plan. The health workforce in primary health care (PHC) facilities should be trained and frequently updated and refreshed. A district-level rapid response team should be formed comprising a district health officer, medical officer, public health officer, health assistants, senior auxiliary health workers, public health nurses, auxiliary nurses and midwives (ANMs), community medical assistants, vector control assistant, malaria inspector, immunization supervisors, laboratory technician, health educators and a statistical assistant. Similarly, the health workforce in hospitals should also be prepared to tackle any emergencies. The disaster management section at national, provincial and district levels should also maintain a roster of trained health workforce so that health workers can be mobilized at short notice following an emergency.