News from member countries

Ecuador

The Direction of Civil Defense, local Chapter of the Pan American Medical Association and the Ministry of Health, organized a national Seminar on Disaster Medicine in Guayaquil, 19-23 March 1979. Over 150 health professionals participated in this successful training activity. The program included, among others, the following health topics:

Health Supplies in Emergencies;
Medical Attention in Emergencies;
Organization and Operations of Disaster Hospitals;
Psychological Behavior and Mental Health Effects of Disasters;
Disease Surveillance and Control; Environmental Contamination;
Technical Normalization of Disaster Relief; Training of Auxiliary Health Personnel;
Information Systems and Assessment;
Role of Red Cross;
Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social, and private sector in emergency situations;
International Assistance and Role of Inter national Organizations (UNDRO);
Importance of Multisectorial Coordination in Case of Disaster;
Disaster Plan of the Ministry of Health

Additional information on the topics presented and copies of the papers (in Spanish) may be obtained, subject to availability, from:

Coronel Héctor Espinoza
Dirección Nacional de Defensa Civil
Palacio Legislativo, 5to. Piso
Quito, Ecuador

Peru

The International Conference on Disaster Medicine, scheduled to be held in Lima from 18-25 April 1979, was postponed until June 1979 because of circumstances beyond the control of the organizers.

Caribbean area

The Caribbean Seminar/Workshop on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief will be held in St. Lucia from 11-20 June 1979 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center. Over 100 high level participants are expected to attend this multidisciplinary meeting, cosponsored by AID/OFDA (Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance), PAHO and CARICOM. A one-day session will be held on food and nutrition monitoring, health and sanitation.