Medical Organizations Joined the Consultation on DRRM

2 JUNE 2022,VIA ZOOM – Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management Philippines (A-PAD PH) in partnership with ARROWS (Airborne Rescue and Relief Operation with Search), an airborne medical search and rescue program run by Peace Winds Japan, NGO from Japan that supports people exposed to humanitarian and livelihood crises due to natural disasters, conflicts, and poverty spearheaded the consultation of various health practitioners and institutions held last JUne 2, 2022 via zoom. This aimed to provide an overview of the current concerns and challenges related to the country’s medical search and rescue (SAR) capability and identify possible areas for partnership in the event of a major disaster and health emergency in the Philippines.

Present in the consultation were: Ms. Kaori Neki, Head of the A-PAD Management Office and Board member of A PAD PH; Dr. Mototaka Inaba, Project Head and a doctor of ARROWS; Dr. Maria Minerva Calimag of Philippine Medical Association; Dr. Maria Lourdes Monteverde, President of Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry; fifty participants from the six regions and national medical institutions.

Representatives from the different medical institutions have expressed their interest to collaborate with A-PAD PH in strengthening and capacitating the health emergency response in the country, and identify areas of collaboration with the different stakeholders in the regional level.

Dr. Inaba, enumerated what PWJ can support: (1) Team dispatch like EMT Type 1 mobile in the Philippines; (2) Dispatch medical doctors and nurses to hospitals in the affected areas; and (3) Provide a special team for the patient airborne transportation.