Developing and maintaining health emergency response capacity: Palau’s national emergency medical team
10.5365/wpsar.2023.14.6.1039
- Author:
May Morag Ferguson
1
;
Sean T Casey
2
,
3
;
Wally Omengkar
4
;
Gaafar J Uherbelau
4
;
Terepkul ngiraingas
4
,
5
;
Belinda Eungel
4
,
5
Author Information
1. World Health Organization Country Liaison Office for the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau, Palikir, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
2. World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines
3. School of Population Health, Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
4. Ministry of Health and Human Services, Koror, Palau
5. Belau National Hospital, Koror, Palau
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
emergency medical team;
rapid response team;
capacity building;
policy;
training programs;
motivation;
Palau
- From:
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response
2023;14(6):21-24
- CountryWHO-WPRO
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Palau is a small island/large ocean nation in the Pacific that is vulnerable to natural or climate-related disasters. The national emergency medical team (EMT) was developed following a World Health Organization initiative to facilitate EMT training and cache procurement in the Pacific. As a result of the WHO initiative, Palau's EMT, known as KLEMAT, is fully self-sufficient and able to rapidly deploy in response to any local/national disaster or emergency. Imperative to any team development is the challenge of maintaining skills and motivation. Palau's experience is that by providing KLEMAT with regular education and training exercises, the team continues to advance as a cohesive, highly skilled group, which in turn ensures their ongoing preparedness for disaster/emergency response.
- Full text:202508291104231995wpsar-14-1039.pdf
