ASEAN, Japan medical teams join disaster response drill

A three-day regional collaboration drill draws  more than 200 members of emergency medical teams (EMTs) from 10 ASEAN countries and Japan to test medical response to disasters. (Photo: Bao Da Nang)

The drill challenged participants to respond to a ‘super typhoon’ with wind speeds of 200km per hour sweeping central provinces from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Ngai, killing 500 people and wounding 800 others. In the training scenario, dozens of living quarters were isolated and nearly 10,000 victims were taken to hospitals.

ASEAN countries then responded to a call for help from Vietnam through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance and EMTs were sent to disaster-hit areas in Vietnam with air cargo containing logistics and medical equipment.

The drill tested three regional and two provincial medical coordination centres in which EMTs received and provided first aid and medical services for victims who were then transferred to higher-level health providers if necessary. The EMTs also evaluated medical needs in storm-hit villages.

Vietnam and other ASEAN states have proactively joined in the project on strengthening the ASEAN regional capacity on disaster health management since 2015./.

VNA