The leading role of expert safety knowledge in supporting the mission of caring for patients during man-made and natural disasters: state of emergency medicine in Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Ukraine
Dublin Core
Title
The leading role of expert safety knowledge in supporting the mission of caring for patients during man-made and natural disasters: state of emergency medicine in Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Ukraine
Subject
Disaster Planning, Security measures, Civil Defense, Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and services
Description
Abstract
Preparedness to endure extreme situations such as natural disasters or military conflicts is not commonplace in
healthcare training programs. Moreover, multidisciplinary teams in health services rarely (if ever) include experts
in security. However, when emergency situations occur, prevailing healthcare demands do not cease to exist, and
unexpected demands often surge due to the shortage of other services and supplies or as a consequence of the
emergency condition itself.
With services in 45 countries, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has operated in several conflict zones, facing
broad and challenging security demands. Since 2017 AHF has implemented the Global Department of Safety
and Security (GDSS), a dedicated intelligence and safety program that had a key role in the security monitoring,
preparedness, and defense responses, assisting staff members and clients during recent conflicts.
In this manuscript, we describe the experience of AHF’s GDSS in three recent military conflicts in Ethiopia,
Myanmar, and Ukraine, and provide insights into steps that can be taken to assure staff safety and support the
mission of caring for patients throughout catastrophic events.
Keywords Disaster Planning, Security measures, Civil Defense, Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and services
Preparedness to endure extreme situations such as natural disasters or military conflicts is not commonplace in
healthcare training programs. Moreover, multidisciplinary teams in health services rarely (if ever) include experts
in security. However, when emergency situations occur, prevailing healthcare demands do not cease to exist, and
unexpected demands often surge due to the shortage of other services and supplies or as a consequence of the
emergency condition itself.
With services in 45 countries, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has operated in several conflict zones, facing
broad and challenging security demands. Since 2017 AHF has implemented the Global Department of Safety
and Security (GDSS), a dedicated intelligence and safety program that had a key role in the security monitoring,
preparedness, and defense responses, assisting staff members and clients during recent conflicts.
In this manuscript, we describe the experience of AHF’s GDSS in three recent military conflicts in Ethiopia,
Myanmar, and Ukraine, and provide insights into steps that can be taken to assure staff safety and support the
mission of caring for patients throughout catastrophic events.
Keywords Disaster Planning, Security measures, Civil Defense, Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and services
Creator
Ralph C. Miles1
, Vivian I. Avelino-Silva1*, Wilfred Odoke1
, Jan van den Hombergh1
, Fernanda F. Fonseca1
,
Mengistu GebreMichael2
, Yaroslava Lopatina3
, Win Oo4
and Adele Schwartz Benzaken1
, Vivian I. Avelino-Silva1*, Wilfred Odoke1
, Jan van den Hombergh1
, Fernanda F. Fonseca1
,
Mengistu GebreMichael2
, Yaroslava Lopatina3
, Win Oo4
and Adele Schwartz Benzaken1
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00609-1
Date
2024
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Ralph C. Miles1
, Vivian I. Avelino-Silva1*, Wilfred Odoke1
, Jan van den Hombergh1
, Fernanda F. Fonseca1
,
Mengistu GebreMichael2
, Yaroslava Lopatina3
, Win Oo4
and Adele Schwartz Benzaken1, “The leading role of expert safety knowledge in supporting the mission of caring for patients during man-made and natural disasters: state of emergency medicine in Ethiopia, Myanmar, and Ukraine,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12300.