The experience of countries affected by large-scale
natural disasters in the Americas has revealed very specific humanitarian needs in the
health sector. However, contrary to what the national and international press reports,
most of the supplies that are needed to meet the immediate needs are already available in
the country.
One of the more popular items on the "shopping
list" of equipment and supplies presented to the international donor community is the
field hospital.
Following are some points to keep in mind when considering making a request for a field hospitals in the aftermath of a disaster.
For a field hospital to be useful, it should:
- be fully operational within 24 hours of the disaster.
- be able to provide services that coincide with medical needs.
- allow for national health personnel to operate the technology contained within.
Should a field hospital be necessary, national authorities should
determine if there are already field hospitals that comply with the above criteria, and
use these first.
The benefit of accepting donated field hospitals should be carefully examined, bearing in
mind that:
- The period of time it will take for a field
hospital from a donor country to arrive, be set up and become fully operational will be
greater than the need for urgent medical care to the victims, which is during the initial
hours of a disaster.
- Donor countries will include the high cost of
transporting these hospitals as part of their "collaboration". These funds could
be put to better use for other more necessary supplies.
- Maintenance of a little-used, temporary facility is
subsequently very high and becomes a burden on the affected country.
- The donation of this type of hospital can be a public
relations coup for the affected country and the donor agency, even though the use of the
donation is minimal.
When it comes to the issue of field hospitals in the aftermath of
disasters, DO NOT...
- Support requests for field hospitals from abroad.
- Encourage donors (countries and organizations) to donate field
hospitals.
- Accept donations of field hospitals that do not comply with the basic criteria.
