Database of Health Workforce Innovations
642
Lessons from the 2015 earthquake(s) in Nepal: implication for rehabilitation
The most recent major natural disaster was the earthquake(s) that occurred in Nepal on 25 April 2015 and 12 May 2015. In total, more than 8500 people were killed and over 18 500 people were left injured. This article aims to demonstrate the role of rehabilitation professionals in post-disaster relief and beyond in Nepal.
Method: This is an experiential account of physiotherapists present during the earthquake and participating in the post-disaster relief. Results: Rehabilitation professionals played an important role in the acute phase post-disaster by providing essential services and equipment. However, discharge planning emerged as an important role for rehabilitation providers in the early days of post-disaster and signaled a relatively new and innovative function that facilitated the heavy imbalance between little supply and tremendous demand for care.
Method: This is an experiential account of physiotherapists present during the earthquake and participating in the post-disaster relief. Results: Rehabilitation professionals played an important role in the acute phase post-disaster by providing essential services and equipment. However, discharge planning emerged as an important role for rehabilitation providers in the early days of post-disaster and signaled a relatively new and innovative function that facilitated the heavy imbalance between little supply and tremendous demand for care.
Who- rehabilitation specialists (Occupational therapists, Physiotherapists)
What- Providing rehabilitation services to those impacted by the 2015 Nepal earthquake as part of emergency humanitarian aid
Where- Mainly urban areas such as Kathmandu
How- Hence, in the hours and days following the initial earthquake, local and international NGOs implementing various rehabilitation initiatives ranging from
community-based rehabilitation (CBR) to disability advocacy quickly re-focused their work to provide assistance in the pre- and post-support of medical and surgical interventions among the injured. It was encouraging to see that many of the NGOs relied heavily on Nepalese human resources, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists, to meet the increased demand for rehabilitation. Partnerships were quickly developed between local and international groups to further build capacity in rehabilitation, and provide care for acute trauma cases and specialized conditions, such as spinal cord injuries, amputations, acquired brain injuries and complex fractures. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists were deployed to the main hospitals in the capital and mobile teams were organized to provide assistance to hospitals and rehabilitation centers in the Kathmandu Valley and beyond.
What- Providing rehabilitation services to those impacted by the 2015 Nepal earthquake as part of emergency humanitarian aid
Where- Mainly urban areas such as Kathmandu
How- Hence, in the hours and days following the initial earthquake, local and international NGOs implementing various rehabilitation initiatives ranging from
community-based rehabilitation (CBR) to disability advocacy quickly re-focused their work to provide assistance in the pre- and post-support of medical and surgical interventions among the injured. It was encouraging to see that many of the NGOs relied heavily on Nepalese human resources, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists, to meet the increased demand for rehabilitation. Partnerships were quickly developed between local and international groups to further build capacity in rehabilitation, and provide care for acute trauma cases and specialized conditions, such as spinal cord injuries, amputations, acquired brain injuries and complex fractures. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists were deployed to the main hospitals in the capital and mobile teams were organized to provide assistance to hospitals and rehabilitation centers in the Kathmandu Valley and beyond.
- New roles
- Expanded roles
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Volunteers
- Other Health Care Workers
Post-earthquake in Nepal, 2015
- Critical Care
- Emergency Medical Services
- Hospitals
- Urban/Suburban
- Remote
The utilization of Nepalese human health resources (physiotherapists, OT's, etc), as well as collective experience from previous disasters, most notably Haiti, the acceptance for the role of rehabilitation providers is increasing in disaster response.
Research Intervention - outcome data available
Sheppard, P. S., & Landry, M. D. (2015). Lessons from the 2015 earthquake(s) in Nepal: implication for rehabilitation. Disability and Rehabilitation, 38(9), 910–913.
Dr Michel D. Landry
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Duke University Medical Center
Asia
USA