Citation

Salam A, Wireko AA, Jiffry R, Ng JC, Patel H, Zahid MJ, Mehta A, Huang H, Abdul-Rahman T, Isik A. Ann. Med. Surg. (Lond.) 2023; 85(8): 3774-3777.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Surgical Associates, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1097/MS9.0000000000001041

PMID

37554857

PMCID

PMC10406090

Abstract

Humanitarian settings, such as natural disasters, cause human suffering and destruction, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In a challenging scenario, such as the aftermath of a natural disaster, health systems can collapse under the burden of casualties. However, qualified surgical care remains crucial in LMICs when exposed to the debilitating consequences of natural disasters. With LMICs experiencing three times more fatalities in the event of natural disasters compared to high-income countries, it is essential to establish minimum standards of care when initiating surgical care activities1.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Foreign Field Hospitals (FFHs) exemplify the implementation of the 'do no harm' principle, especially in a challenging situation to ensure the best possible quality surgical care to the infected population2,3. While natural disasters present unique scientific challenges and conditions, a report by FFH reports a lack of detailed information on the activities pursued by the healthcare teams3. The inaccessibility and time sensitivity of surgical care further exacerbate the effects of natural disasters, and thus it becomes crucial to enforce protocols for standard operating procedures to provide guidance to healthcare professionals.

Language: en