investing in disaster prevention and preparedness can reduce worldwide economic losses by $280 billion
Experts to review emergency response capabilities at Middle East Emergency Congress in Abu Dhabi, 2-4 September 2007
According to a comprehensive World Bank study, the estimated losses worldwide for devastating natural and man-made disasters in the last decade could have been reduced by $280 billion, if $40 billion had been invested in prevention and preparedness measures. Across the Middle East, from Cyclone Gonu to earthquakes, the Asian tsunami to building tower fires and road traffic accidents, there is an increasing recognition of the benefits of effective emergency preparedness and well-trained emergency and recovery personnel.
Responding to this, the 2007 Middle East Emergency Congress, the region’s premier congress for emergency professionals, will convene from 2-4 September at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and will attract a broad range of professionals, from trauma surgeons, hospital directors and health officials, to firemen, police officers and paramedics. Over 50 companies will participate in the associated exhibition.
The Congress will consist of three dedicated conferences: Disaster Management, Emergency Medical Services, and Trauma & Emergency Care, each of which will address current topics and share best practices with the aim of improving the skills of emergency professionals.
Commenting on the conference, Simon Page, Project Director of Arab Health said; “The Emergency Congress reflects the level of regional interest in - and commitment to - preparing for or preventing all types of potential emergencies or disasters. The 2007 event provides an ideal platform for regional and international emergency practitioners to exchange ideas, recommend new policies and improve emergency and disaster preparedness.”
The Disaster Management Conference will review lessons learned from natural, man-made, biological and health related disasters and assess international approaches to preparedness planning and emergency response. A panel of international experts will discuss the use of information technology in support of disaster management, including how technologies can assist in medical emergency preparedness and response.
One of the key topics at the Emergency Medical Services Conference will be expert assessments of communication links between emergency medical services and hospitals in the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The conference will also explore recommendations for future developments in the field of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), including establishing a GCC registry licensing exam, using uniform protocols in EMS and offering paramedic training.
Specialists attending the Trauma & Emergency Care Conference will benefit from the insight of medical experts who will share their first-hand knowledge in the treatment and management (within the first 48 hours) of multiple injury patients, as well as paediatric, burn, orthopaedic, urology and vascular traumas.
The Abu Dhabi Medical Congress is accredited by the American Academy of Continuing Medical Education (AACME) and delegates will receive an AACME certificate, which can be used towards maintaining the necessary annual quota of CME credits. Attendees at the Emergency Medical Services conference will receive 6 CME hours, Trauma & Emergency Care conference attendees will get 10.5 credit hours and Disaster Management conference attendees will be awarded 13.75 CME hours from AACME.
The event is supported by the UAE Ministry of Health, Health Authority of Abu Dhabi, Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS) Dubai and Directorate General of Civil Defence. The show has also attracted sponsorship from international companies, such as Asia Global Technologies (AGT) and Schiller AG. An added feature of the Emergency exhibition will be the display of a state of the art emergency and rescue helicopter by Abu Dhabi Police Airwing.
The Emergency Congress forms an important part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Medical Congress in September this year, featuring a three-day, extensive conference and exhibition programme on healthcare related sciences, products and services, including Primary Healthcare and Patient Safety.
