Citation

Amatya B, Lee SY, Galea MP, Khan F. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PHM.0000000000001308

PMID

31469681

Abstract

There is a strong consensus amongst humanitarian response authorities for a need for global action by professional organizations to work towards developing a structured approach to provide a coordinated international response during sudden-onset disasters (SODs). The aim of this report is to develop a Disaster Rehabilitation Response Plan (DRRP) to enable International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM) to provide leadership and governance role in liaison/coordination with the WHO Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Initiative and other relevant stakeholders to provide rehabilitation input during SODs. The proposed plan uses a 'three-tier approach': Tier-1- Immediate disaster response at a national/international level, Tier-2- Organisation and deployment of rehabilitation personnel, and Tier-3- Rehabilitation management of disaster survivors and community reintegration. The ISPRM (and its sub-committee, the Disaster Rehabilitation Committee (DRC)), categorised in the Tier-2, could provide central leadership role working for the rehabilitation sub-cluster within the WHO- EMT Initiative (Tier-1) and support in coordination, preparation and management of rehabilitation teams and/or members for deployment to SODs. The DRC could also contribute to advocacy, training and accreditation processes for rehabilitation professionals. The challenge ahead is commitment of countries worldwide to develop comprehensive rehabilitation-inclusive approach to ensure effective delivery of services to communities at risk.

Language: en