Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-qxdb6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T13:15:23.604Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Emergency Health and Risk Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Lesson from the Embassy Bombings in Tanzania and Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Zoanne A. Clack ,
Mark E. Keim ,
Anthony G. Macintyre  and
Kevin Yeskey
Zoanne A. Clack
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor, Emory University, Department of Emergency Medicine
Mark E. Keim*
Affiliation:
Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Anthony G. Macintyre
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor, George Washington University, Department of Emergency Medicine
Kevin Yeskey
Affiliation:
Associate Director for Science, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
*
National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, MS-F38 Atlanta, GA 30341–3724 USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In 1998, terrorists simultaneously bombed United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya. The local response to these bombings was unorganized and ad hoc, indicating the need for basic disaster preparedness and improvement of emergency management capabilities in both countries.

In this context, risk and risk management are defined and are related to the health hazards affecting Tanzanians and Kenyans. In addition, the growing number of injuries in Tanzania is addressed and the relationship between risk management and injury is explored. Also, an emergency medicine-based strategy for injury control and prevention is proposed. Implications of implementing such a protocol in developing nations also are discussed.

Keywords

bombingemergency healthglobal healthKenyainjuriesinternational emergency medicinerisk managementTanzaniaU.S. Embassy
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , June 2002 , pp. 59 - 66
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Macintyre, AG, Weir, S, Barbera, JA: The international search and rescue response to the US Embassy bombing in Kenya: The medical team experience. Prehosp Disast Med 1999; 14(4):215–221.Google Scholar
2. World Health Organization: Emergency Management Terminology: Selected Definitions. Geneva: WHO, 1992.Google Scholar
3. Lechat, MF: Accident and disaster epidemiology. Public Health Review 1993–1994; 2: 933–941.Google Scholar
4. Moshiro, C, Setel, PW, Whiting, DR, Unwin, N, Mclarty, DG, Alberti, KGMM, and the AMMP Project Team: The importance of injury as a cause of death in Tanzania. Adult Morbidity and Mortality Project (AMMP). August 1997.Google Scholar
5. United Kingdom Department for International Development and Government of the United Republic of Tanzania: Policy Implication of Adult Morbidity and Mortality, End of Phase 1 Report August, 1997; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Mack Printers, 1997.Google Scholar
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Cause-specific adult mortality: Evidence from community-based surveillance — Selected sites, Tanzania, 1992–1998. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 2000: 49 (19); 416–419.Google Scholar
7. Mushi, S, Mgonja, AS: Assessment of types of accidents and their associated factors in Arusha municipality between 1990 and 1992. Disasters, Accidents, Violence, and Health in Africa.Google Scholar
8. Museru, LM, Leshabari, MT, Grob, U, Lisokotola, LN: The pattern of injuries seen in patients in the orthopaedic/trauma wards of Muhimbili Medical Centre. East and Central African Journal of Surgery 4(1):15–21.Google Scholar
9. Museru, LM: Injuries in Africa, (personal correspondence), 1999.Google Scholar
10. Riwa, PG, Kitunga, LJ: Industrial accidents in Tanzania: An overview and prospects for future interventions. Disasters, Accidents, Violence and Health in Africa.Google Scholar
11. Rosenberg, M, Brown, S, Katz, M, Berger, L, Baer, K: An international public health perspective on injury control. Violence, Aggression and Terrorism 1988;2(4):357–372.Google Scholar
12. Forjuoh, S, Zwi, A, Mock, C: Injury control in Africa: Getting governments to do more. Tropical Medicine and International Health 1998;3(5):349–356.Google Scholar
13. World Health Organization: Principles for Injury Prevention in Developing Countries. proceedings of an international course organized by the John Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health and the World Health Organization, 1985.Google Scholar
14. Barrs, P, Smith, G, Baker, S, Mohan, D: Injury prevention: An international perspective, New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.Google Scholar
15. Mutasingwa, D: Vulnerability Analysis and Risk Management, paper presented at the Disaster Management Workshop; Morogoro, Tanzania, 26–30 October, 1998.Google Scholar
16. Haddon, W: Advances in the epidemiology of injuries as basis for public policy. Public Health Reports 1980; 95: 411–421.Google ScholarPubMed
17. Rottman, SJ, Noji, EK, et al: Priorities in medical response to disasters. Prehosp Disaster Med 1990; 5: 64–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18. SAEM Disaster Medicine White Paper Subcommittee on Disaster Medicine: Current assessment and blueprint for the future. Academic Emergency Medicine 1995;2(12):1068–1076.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19. Hauswald, M, Yeoh, E: Designing a prehospital system for a developing country: Estimated cost and benefits. American Journal of Emergency Medicine 1997; 15(6):600–602.Google Scholar
20. Doezema, D, Sklar, DP, Roth, PB, Rodolico, MP, Key, G: Development of emergency services in Costa Rica: A collaborative project in international health. JAMA 1991; 265(2): 188–190.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21. Hogan, D, Waeckerle, J, Dire, D, et al: Emergency department impact of the Oklahoma City terrorist bombing. Annals of Emergency Medicine 1999;34(2):160–167.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed