Experience and Preparedness of Major Incidents in Developing Countries

Lack of systematic patient and population data collection Lack of rehabilitation professionals Delayed diagnosis and wrong diagnosis of SCI in patients with severe back pain from major muscular trauma and patients with peripheral nerve injuries and plexopathies Management of SCI by nonprofessional volunteers and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that lack expertise in disability management Lack of SCI rehabilitation training and education for nonrehabilitation professionals and for patients and families After the earthquake in Bam, one of us (G.R.) visited SCI patients as part of a mobile team. [...]he developed a short course to educate general practitioners and patient and families. 2 Rehabilitation needs highlighted by the earthquake have also resulted in the training of more specialist rehabilitation physicians in Iran. Included in the programming were SCI rehabilitation training and education curriculum and materials developed for nonrehabilitation professionals and for patients and their caregivers. 10 Although early medical rehabilitation in recent earthquakes in developing countries has proven effective, it is not generally considered essential to disaster preparedness and response. 11,12 Measures taken to improve the number and quality of services after the incident, such as SCI data collection and provider education and training, strengthen the case for providing early rehabilitation and align with the recommendations for improved preparedness and response of future major incidents.