Team Well-Being and Challenges of Deploying an EMT Halfway Around the World

Background/Introduction:UK-Med, as part of our UK EMT project, deployed a team to respond to the overwhelming surge in COVID-19 cases in Papua New Guinea in late 2021. Such deployment was associated with several risks, including natural hazards;earthquakes;societal crisis;tribal fighting and civil unrest;and health risks such as extreme temperatures and poor sanitation infrastructure presented further hazards to personnel safety.Objectives:To share lessons learned on enhancing the well-being of an EMT in a challenging context such as PNG.Method/Description:Satisfaction survey, bilateral meetings, in addition to weekly meetings with the headquarters held throughout the deployment.Results/Outcomes:All deployed team members felt exhausted early in the deployment, including an early lack of clarity on the deployment location which eventually ended up being Mount Hagen, a very risky area only accessible by plane. Utilizing emotional and social support, diversity acceptance within the team, and coherent coordination between team members the deployment delivered upon all agreed objectives. Local staff were integrated and a successful workplan was well-received and evaluated as making a real difference to the staff and patients, with a request for an extension of activities received from the Provincial Health Authority.Conclusion:Considerations for staff well-being need to counter-balance the need for strict security protocols. Solid feedback mechanisms should be designed and implemented at an early stage of deployments to avoid any adverse effect on the team’s well-being. Deployment of an assessment team should strengthen coordination, ensuring required needs are being responded to and operational planning is location/context specific.

Sharing of Best Practices from an Emergency Medical Team Deployment in Papua New Guinea: Piloting a Health Promotion Program Targeting COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake

Background/Introduction:COVID-19 tremendously affected Papua New Guinea in late 2021, which accompanied by a low vaccination rate (<4%), lead to an International EMT Request for Assistance.Objectives:Study’s aim is to share how UK-Med, a part of the UK EMT, developed best practices related to risk communication and community engagement integration within a COVID-19 emergency response.Method/Description:A participatory health promotion program was piloted in Western Highland Province among 71 health care workers. Training of trainers approach was adopted to build the capacity of health workers in advocating for vaccines uptake. Perception survey was used at the baseline and at the end of the program to assess the knowledge, skills, and attitude of the participants towards COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. A descriptive analysis and paired t-test were used.Results/Outcomes:Health care professionals are not well-equipped with accurate, scientific, and up-to-date information related to COVID-19 vaccines;which leads to increase in concern and fear among them. Health care workers affect community members’ decision to take the COVID-19 vaccine, being viewed as referents within their communities. The paired t-test showed a significant increase in the knowledge, skills, and attitude (P value <.001) of the participants toward COVID-19 vaccines. Participants described being ready to engage community influencers and cascade training to further reach out to community groups.Conclusion:Integrating RCCE within EMT deployments plays a crucial role in leveraging health care capabilities to influence community members and advocate for COVID-19 vaccines uptake;which will ultimately decrease morbidity and mortality. Further research is required to strengthen the role of health promotion in emergencies.

EMT Response in COVID-19 Pandemic: Best Practices from Deployment of UK-MED and PCPM’s EMTs

Background/Introduction:As part of EU (Horizon 2020) HERoS program, UK-MED and PCPM compiled main operational difficulties faced by the two EMTs in 25 and seven COVID-19 deployments, respectively. In particular, the paper discusses the changing role of EMTs, as well as challenges faced in meeting high expectations of the respective Ministries of Health (MOH).Objectives:Documenting challenges faced by EMTs in COVID-19 response, lessons learned, and best practices.Method/Description:Review of mission reports;interviews with mission members;input from other EMTs (TBC).Results/Outcomes:The paper lists best practices of the two EMTs and recommendations to donors and EMT Secretariat, particularly linked to mission duration and collaboration with MOH.Conclusion:The paper lists best practices of the two EMTs and recommendations to donors and EMT Secretariat, particularly linked to mission duration and collaboration with MOH.

Risk Communication and Community Engagement in Action During Ukraine's War.

In the light of recent emergencies in Europe and around the globe-including COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine-the spotlight has shifted towards the scarcity of Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) research applied to health emergencies. RCCE nurtures the sense of empowerment among communities since it ensures that individuals and communities are part of the solution creation, thus they take informed decisions to protect their health and in turn, contribute to emergency control. Therefore, RCCE can play an important role as core public health intervention across health emergency preparedness and response. However, its tremendous impact, is still underestimated and not widely common. This viewpoint showcases the RCCE measures applied to the Ukrainian emergency to ensure that Ukrainian refugees access health services in host countries, based on their needs and concerns.