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About Annals
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The recent tsunami in southern Asia has prompted charity and intellectual curiosity among many physicians. To support the desire to help, Annals of Internal Medicine and the American College of Physicians have assembled information to assist physicians and others learn what they can do to help with the current disaster and how they can prepare themselves to help in future situations. We direct those who wish to learn about the clinical conditions that threaten the well-being of people in tsunami-affected areas to several ACP-related and non-ACP resources that provide some of this information.
Volunteerism in Tsunami-Affected Areas:
Although many medical professionals worldwide are eager to help, the opportunities for physicians without previous training in disaster relief are limited according to the American Red Cross. Medical agencies in affected areas are generally suggesting that the best way to help those in Tsunami-affected areas is to donate money. Physicians and others interested in helping can find out about local volunteerism opportunities through their local Red Cross chapters.
Project HOPE is preparing a comprehensive effort to provide medical aid to tsunami survivors in some of the most seriously affected areas of South Asia. In anticipation of providing support to the Navy in the deployment of the USNS MERCY in a Humanitarian Assistance mission, Project HOPE is seeking a number of selected physicians and other medical personnel for assignment to the region over the next 3 months. Volunteers must meet specific medical and training requirements before deployment and commit to a minimum of 30 days (one rotation), up to a maximum of 90 days (three rotations) in the region. Those interested in learning more can e-mail Project Hope at recruitment{at}projecthope.org.
Doctors of the World/Medecins du Monde is providing direct assistance to the survivors of the earthquake and tsunami disasters. In addition to immediate assistance, Doctors of the World is assessing the situation to establish priorities for further aid, and to enable a rapid response to new crises including the outbreak of disease and plans a long-term presence after the emergency phase to insure health systems are rebuilt.
Volunteerism in General
An American College of Physicians brochure contains general information about medical volunteering.
The Volunteerism Subcommittee of the American College of Physicians has compiled a list of general volunteer opportunities for physicians interested in volunteering their services.
The USA Freedom Corps is an organization with a Coordinating Council based at the White House that aims to strengthen the culture of service in America and help find opportunities for Americans who wish to volunteer. The USA Freedom Corps Network is a directory where individuals can find service opportunities that match their interests, talents, and geographic preferences.
Health Volunteers Overseas is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian voluntary organization that places medical volunteers in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. HVO is dedicated to improving the availability and quality of health care in developing countries through training and education. Physicians can learn about these opportunities on the Health Volunteers Overseas web site.
Charitable Giving
USAID, the US government agency responsible for economic and humanitarian assistance around the world, provides a list of charities providing assistance to people affected by the tsunami.
Those interested in learning about charitable organizations can obtain information about specific charities from Charity Navigator. Charity Navigator is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization under the internal Revenue Code that that helps those interested in contributing to charitable organizations make intelligent giving decisions by providing information on over thirty-five hundred charities and evaluations of the financial health of each of these charities. Charity Navigator does not accept contributions from any of the charities the organization evaluates.
Infectious Diseases
Cholera:
Hepatitis A:
Malaria:
Typhoid:
Campylobacter:
Dengue:
General Information on Viral Zoonoses:
General Information on Diarrheal Diseases:
Infection Control
Management of dead bodies after disasters:
Mosquito control:
Environmental sanitation in emergencies:
Other Potential Health Concerns for Tsunami Survivors
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:
Traumatic Injuries:
Hypothermia:
Wound Infection:
Conjunctivitis:
Animal Bites:
Potential clinical concerns not addressed above, but named by the CDC and WHO to be of potential concern in tsunami-affected areas, are yellow fever, Leptospirosis, plague, Japanese encephalitis, tetanus, avian influenza, reactive airway disease, and dermatitis.
Information for Travelers to Tsunami-Affected Areas
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