Role of Physiotherapist(PTs) in Humanitarian Crisis

Humanitarian crisis is defined as a series of events that are alarming in terms of natural disasters, epidemics, famine, conflicts, wars and exclusions. Life is uncertain to predict on crisis that may pound in one’s life leading to an unstable and hazardous situation affecting an individual, community and nation as a whole. Humanitarian crisis are often interconnected and complex and several national and international agencies play vital role to overcome the events by adding hopes, smiles, positivity to the survivors.

PTs play a major role in the rehabilitation of survivors who are left with physical injuries such as amputation, spinal cord injury, head injury, fractures and other forms of disablement. Treating disaster survivor would always be challenging task to PTs as one should take a note of their emotional outburst and psychological stress with lots of patience. PTs should be channelized from preparedness to response and relief after disaster as a fundamental part of a team. In preparedness phase community as a whole should be able to respond when catastrophe occur by collaborating with community partners to plan training, exercising, equipping. During response phase depending upon the worst hit areas PTs should be mobilized. Quick assessment to manage huge case load should be kept in account. Prescribing exercise, chest physio, safe transfer, early bed mobilization, assessment for mobility aids and prosthesis and orthosis are major responsibilities of PTs. During post disaster phase PTs should encourage patients for regular follow-up to prevent further complications.

Therefore PT and rehab professionals have major part to act in humanitarian crisis to prevent long term disability and enhancing standards of living.