Rapid response during outbreaks or in times of disaster could mean the difference between life or death for affected populations. Dr Kim Eva Dickson, WHO Head of Office in Samoa said, “Trained medical responders who can reach affected populations quickly are extremely important in the effort to save lives during emergencies.” As such, the Samoa Emergency Medical Assistance Team (SEMAT) completed a one-week training from 14-18 November 2022. The training session covered Emergency Medical Team (EMT) principles and minimum standards, as well as core content related to operating deployable, self-sufficient clinical teams in different emergency contexts to deliver quality care to patients. Coordination, activation protocols, logistics and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) also formed key components of the training.
Having trained, equipped and self-sufficient national EMTs prepared to deploy to remote and austere conditions is essential to health emergency preparedness in Pacific Island Countries and Areas, such as Samoa. An experienced faculty of health emergency response experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Australia Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) facilitated the training. The training was funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) through a project that supports national EMT development in the Pacific.
The first cohort of trained SEMAT team members included 35 personnel from Samoa’s Ministry of Health, Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) and the Ministry of Police, Prisons and Corrections Services. The training was five days long and included a simulation exercise on the final day to put into practice the content learned in the four previous days. In the simulation exercise, SEMAT responded to a fictional cyclone scenario, operating mobile clinics in the worst affected areas. The team was tasked to plan their deployment, organize logistics, supplies, and anticipate management of a mass casualty event as part of their deployment. In this scenario, the team travelled via a small boat and had to work in challenging and austere conditions. Faculty members commented that the SEMAT responded superbly to the task at hand and demonstrated exceptional skills and leadership.
A woman acting as a patient, is lying on a cot as members of SEMAT assist her during a simulation exercise. Photo: WHO/Erin Noste
Following this exercise, SEMAT team members expressed confidence in their ability to undertake their assigned roles and to work together to deliver life-saving emergency services to Samoans in times of disasters and outbreaks.
“We are appreciative that we now have our SEMAT and have undertaken this training,” said one team member. She further expressed that, “This training builds on our experience with COVID-19 and from working with the 18 Emergency Management Teams (EMTs) that assisted with the measles outbreak response in 2019.” Another team member added, “With this experience behind us, the cyclone season ahead, and COVID-19 still simmering in the Pacific, we are confident that we are better prepared to respond to any potential emergency and to deliver expert care to affected populations.”
The 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa saw the largest deployment of EMTs in WHO’s Western Pacific Region. Eighteen EMTs comprising 557 specialists including doctors, nurses, logisticians, midwives, allied health professionals and support staff assisted the Samoa Ministry of Health to bring the outbreak under control and care for those affected. Prior to this event, the Samoa Ministry of Health had expressed interest in developing its own Emergency Medical Team. Unfortunately, the measles response and subsequent COVID-19 pandemic led to delays in launching SEMAT and training the first cohort of team members.
Dr Glen Fatupaito, Acting General Director for Health cited the importance of establishing SEMAT given Samoa’s “unique experience with multiple disasters and outbreaks”. He noted importantly that, “The team is specialized and is supported by other frontline responders from Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) and the Ministry of Police, Prisons and Corrections Services. For this reason, the first day of the training workshop sensitized a much wider group of stakeholders that also included the Public Service Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Disaster Management Office, which would help us to responded in a more coordinated manner to emergencies in the future.”
Group photo with participants and trainers during the SEMAT training in Samoa. Photo: WHO