{"id":4499,"date":"2024-09-11T15:31:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T22:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.wpcarey.asu.edu\/carisca\/?p=4499"},"modified":"2024-12-02T11:35:39","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T18:35:39","slug":"medical-and-humanitarian-logistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.wpcarey.asu.edu\/carisca\/2024\/09\/11\/medical-and-humanitarian-logistics\/","title":{"rendered":"Medical and Humanitarian Logistics in Disaster Settings: Preparedness and Response"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every year over the past two decades, approximately 350 to 450 natural disasters have struck around the globe. Each of these events has caused an economic loss of at least $50 million, an insured loss of $25 million, 10 or more fatalities, 50 injuries and\/or damage to a minimum of 2,000 structures. In 2023, Africa, Europe and the Middle East experienced the highest number of disasters, according to research data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The perennial occurrence of disasters in various forms and their consequent destruction to lives and properties highlight the critical role of medical and humanitarian logistics. Logisticians in medical and humanitarian fields ensure the availability and timely delivery of essential medicines and equipment and support rapid response and relief efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lt. Col. Solomon Ocran, who spoke on Sept. 11 as part of CARISCA\u2019s Distinguished Lecture Series, has been practicing in the field of medical and humanitarian logistics for 15 years. He has served as a pharmacist and medical logistics officer at hospitals in Ghana as well as Chad, Congo, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Liberia and South Sudan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his lecture, Ocran talked about how medical and humanitarian logistics are essential for ensuring that health care systems are prepared to respond to emergencies. Managing the availability of pharmaceuticals; medical\/surgical supplies, devices and equipment; consumables and other products plays a critical role in preparedness and response when disasters strike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have to prepare, because disasters may occur, and when they occur it is these supplies that will aid health workers in reducing the suffering and saving lives,\u201d said Ocran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the capacity to cope<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the start of the lecture, Ocran defined some of the terms he would use. One definition of disaster he offered is \u201ca serious disruption to the functioning of a community that exceeds its capacity to cope using its own resources.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Especially noteworthy is how the definition ends, noted Ocran. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt points to the fact that you need an outside response to complement what the local response may be in order to handle the effects of the disasters. You want to alleviate suffering, you want to bring relief, you want to preserve life. You need that outside response to complement your efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ocran defined medical logistics as the pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and supplies that healthcare workers use in disasters, including essentials like bandages, gauzes, IV fluids and major medical equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humanitarian logistics, meanwhile, focus on providing general relief supplies like food, water and shelter. Together, these two branches of logistics ensure that critical resources reach communities in need when disaster strikes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ocran pointed out that disasters come in both natural and man-made forms, as well as a hybrid of the two. Hybrid disasters result from a natural occurrence on top of human actions, such as a landslide due to depletion of the soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNatural types of disasters are said to be acts of God,\u201d said Ocran. \u201cWe are not able to do much about them. But man-made disasters most of the time are our doing, and by being careful, we should be able to limit such occurrences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The calm before the disaster<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of the cause, disaster management\u2014effectively preparing for and responding to disasters\u2014is needed. These are the situations where medical logistics and humanitarian relief supplies will be employed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Effective disaster management revolves around two key phases\u2014preparedness and response. Ocran outlined how each phase functions and how logistics support both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the preparedness phase, communities, organizations and governments engage in planning, organizing and training to respond efficiently when disaster hits. This stage might involve public advocacy campaigns, community disaster drills and vulnerability assessments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another key element of preparedness is pre-positioning supplies in warehouses. This step ensures that essentials like food, water, medical supplies and equipment are on hand for rapid deployment. Ocran noted that it is too late to start acquiring these supplies once a disaster hits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you are making preparedness plans, that’s the stage where everything is calm, \u201d said Ocran. \u201cBut you know that something is imminent. Disasters can strike without giving a warning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When they do strike, immediate action is necessary to minimize human suffering. This response phase involves search and rescue operations and providing food, water, shelter and medical attention, including traumatic care, Ocran explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDuring the response, that’s where the actual impact of the disaster is seen. The unfortunate has happened, and you want to take steps to prevent death and lessen financial loss and human suffering,\u201d said Ocran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, damaged infrastructure or even security threats can complicate the transport of supplies. Having back-up modes and routes of transportation are vital considerations under such circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSometimes you have armed actors seizing these supplies,\u201d said Ocran. \u201cThe roads can be destroyed or there can be weather situations where you have to be flexible and use alternative means of transport.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This reality makes partnerships with community and humanitarian organizations essential. Such partnerships can help protect aid deliveries and ensure they reach the intended recipients safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A disaster after the disaster<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managing donations is another persistent challenge in disaster situations, noted Ocran. Although donations can be helpful, he said they often become \u201ca disaster that comes after the disaster.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost of the time, these items are incompatible with what we need to respond to disasters,\u201d he explained. \u201cPeople use the opportunity of donating to get rid of things that they don\u2019t need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe headache you have in handling these inappropriate donations is that you have to spend man hours to dispose of the items,\u201d Ocran noted. \u201cYou need all hands on deck to help victims, alleviate suffering, bring relief, but time is taken up sorting and categorizing these donated items.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In concluding his remarks, Ocran described a way forward, outlining the primary steps needed for effective disaster management. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n