Press Releases

U.S. Defense Institute for Medical Operations Conducts Training on Disaster Response and Trauma System Management

May 19, 2007

The Government of the United States of America, in collaboration with the Government of Mauritius, sponsored a disaster and trauma training in Mauritius from Monday, May 14 to Saturday, May 19, 2007.

Ten instructors from the U.S. Defense Institute for Medical Operations, a professional institution based in San Antonio, Texas, associated with the U.S. Department of Defense, conducted a six-day training program entitled "Leadership Course in Regional Disaster Response and Trauma System Management." Training modules included: introduction to disaster planning; disaster response and regional trauma systems - emergency medical response and trauma centers; trauma prevention - saving lives and saving resources; public health/preventive medicine in disasters; joint and coalition task forces for contingency/disaster operations; initial principles for head and facial injury; initial management principles for spine and spinal cord trauma; and environmental health management after natural disasters, communicable disease epidemics and disasters, and psychiatric response after disasters/trauma.

Fifty participants, including medical practitioners and surgeons from public hospitals and government officials responsible for disaster response, attended this training program at the Mauritius Institute of Health in Pamplemousses.

The training program was comprised of two modules: disaster response and trauma system management. The training started with an introduction to disaster scenarios and regional trauma system, followed by panel discussions. The sessions also included presentations focusing on trauma system development and critical care in disasters, participatory crisis management exercises, modules on public health, preventive medicine in disasters, and initial management principles for spine and spinal cord trauma, and interactive session with local doctors.

This training program was funded by the United States Government.  The Government of Mauritius provided the training facility as well as other logistics.