Sustainable Development Goals/Projects/Save the Children

Abstract: on Emergency Medical Care for Riverine Island Village-(India)

The abstract describes the basic vulnerability and poverty of Riverine Island Villages. We selected Divi Seema,Krishna Dist. Andhra Pradesh (India) as piloting this concept.

Technology based Emergency Medical Services for Riverine island Villages of Krishna District in Andhra Pradesh (India)

Context and Vulnerability Andhra Pradesh is exposed to cyclones, storm surges, floods and droughts. A moderate to severe intensity cyclone can be expected to make landfall every two to three years. About 44 percent of the state is vulnerable to tropical storms and related hazards. In India, the cyclones develop in the pre-monsoon (April to May) and post-monsoon seasons (October to December), but most of them tend to form in the month of November. Andhra Pradesh is battered by every kind of natural disaster: cyclones, floods, earthquakes and drought. The coastal region suffers repeated cyclones and floods. The 1977 cyclone and tidal wave, which resulted in huge loss of life, attracted the attention of the central and state Governments of India and the international donor communities, as did those of 1979, 1990 and 1996. The floods in the Godavari and Krishna Rivers caused havoc in the East and West Godavari and Krishna districts.

Divi Seema Island, Krishna Dist. and climatic Vulnerability: Divi taluk in Krishna District in the Krishna delta. The Krishna delta, created by deposits of sediment from the River Krishna which have extended the coast by about 40 km into the sea, lies on the flat Coromandel coastal plain of Peninsula India, one of two deltas that protrude like carbuncles from the arched curve of the eastern seaboard. It is divided into two parts, one part is on the mainland and the other is on an island (Divi Seema). It is triangular (area 736 sq km) and is bounded by the River Krishna on its west side, a tributary on the north and the Bay of Bengal of the east. The island has two distinct geography. The low-laying coastal area stretches 22 km along the Bay of Bengal and extends about 12 km inland. It is largely unprotected from flooding and high winds of every year. Approximate currently 1 lac people lived there. Divi Seema is an Island which was devastated by cyclones and tidal waves on November 19, 1977. An estimated 10,000 people died and about 1,000,000 head of cattle were destroyed. Most of the people died due to lack of emergency medical services and Mother and child died due to lack of emergency ambulance service for delivery. After almost 40 years of Divi Seema cyclone, health facility of these area is not improved in emergency situation due to lack of road access network. Many of the low laying areas people in this region struggling to find reliable transportation for emergency medical service. They are still depend on ferry services only in day time and night missed appointment. Ferry service is stop during heavy rain and not able to drive in heavy tide and rain. In this case, Patients without transportation access may wait for a medical emergency.

Conceptualizing Boat Hospital an Innovative Solution for Islanders: There are certain places where ferry service is the only means of transportation and due to lack of this facility people often fail to access prompt medical services. Taking note of such need and for a quick response to medical emergencies in riverine island areas and during floods, we are conceptualizing space technology based Emergency Medical system with the aid of a speedboat. This Speedboat will made of fiberglass and is well-equipped with lifesaving equipment, water Treatment plant and medical experts. It is widely being hope that with the introducing of Boat Hospital, the healthcare scenario of islanders and other riverine people will improve. Where, we are value adding Global positioning system network of orbiting satellite receiver on the boat and District head quarter. This will track the exact position of caller & boat and drive through shortest route to reach out unreached on time for emergency medical service in any emergencies. Caller will get the assurance in text or voice call from the department after deputing the team, as a intimation about duration to arrive at location.

Objective: To provide support to the govt. emergency health care system and reach out the unreached children and community rapidly in a medical emergency/emergency medical treatment.

Outcomes: This innovative model will strengthen the health department to strategize the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for Island villages in “The Golden Hour’ and the ‘Platinum Ten Minutes”. Introducing this technique will bring following change in EMS.

• Medical health service will able to reach island villages in emergency situation.
• Able to specialize transport facilities to move people requiring emergency medical treatment.
• Respond rapidly to requests for help in a medical emergency in riverine island villages.
• This system can be utilize in emergency flood situation and reach to village for effective first aid and treatment.
• Departmental and agency coordination will be strengthen to respond together for any humanitarian responses.

SDG Reference

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Concept developed to minimize the emergency medical challenges of island villages in the sector of emergency medical services and ensuring quick response to medical emergencies in riverine island areas during floods/cyclone. In this, Boat Ambulance will equip with following life saving devices and technique: • Well-equipped with lifesaving devices. • Water Treatment plant • Solar Powered system • GPS enabled and Linkages with on-shore control room • On board Medical Doctor • First Aid and Medical Treatment • Catering to Medical emergency in Disaster • Transporting patient to off shore to on shore ambulance. Objective: To provide support to the govt. emergency health care system and reach out the unreached children and community swiftly in a medical emergencies. A high level of segment of the outcome will contribute in implementation of SDGs-3 by incorporating the space based science and technologies for advancing for public health sector. Introducing water treatment plant on boat will ensure the pure water for medical treatment and safe drinking water during humanitarian responses and it will contribute towards SDG-6 and indirectly supporting to UN Sustainable development Goals- 7, 9,10,11,15 and 17.

Learn from Failure and Errors

Failure and Errors are often regarded as a negative fact and we like to report about successes. Nevertheless if errors and failure are not documented we may reproduce errors and failure all over again (see reproducibility).

Implementation yet not started and looking for financial support from potential donors.

Phases of Project and Time Line

Based on the concept, This project can be design in three phases: 1. Accessing and lobbying with state and local departments. 2. Development/Providing Infrastructural technique for access medical services. 3. Building resilience among children, community, front line worker and other stakeholders.

Time Period: This project can be plan for 3 years

Rationals

• For the definition of rationals [https://books.google.de/books?id=wyBpAwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Power_Choice_and_Vulnerability&hl=de&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Power_Choice_and_Vulnerability&f=false Power, Choice and Vulnerability: A Case Study in Disaster Mismanagement in South India
• The WHO Health profile of India especially report 2015 was used to define the rationals for the project.
• The National Disaster Management Plan of India provides the guiding framework for the proposal.
• Health Care on small islands- A review of the literature (Julia Hotchkiss)
• Media report and update of Health Services in India (ABP News & Hindustan times).
• Optional: Crowdfunding e.g. [BetterPlace.org] could be option to go beyond. Wikiversity can be used as Open Proposal Developement and Open Proposal Management.