Rapid deployment of a hospital clinic in the UAE supports the evacuation of more than 4,000 people from Afghanistan bound for Australia.
Highlights
- Medical clinic deployed and running within 72 hours, including:
- Consulting and observation rooms, resuscitation, medical and consumable equipment, pharmacy and ambulance services
- Ten doctors, 22 nurses, several logistics personnel, a pathology technician, psychologist, driver and paramedic.
- Successful containment of COVID-19 positive patients living in high-density accommodation.
- Rapid delivery of N95 masks after a critical shortage.
Overview
Following a rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground in Kabul, Afghanistan, the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade requested Aspen Medical’s support for the imminent arrival of Afghan evacuees in the United Arab Emirates on their way to Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America.
We provided high-quality primary health care for evacuees on the ground, advising on fitness to fly and providing medical and nursing support on repatriation flights. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we also conducted PCR swabs, on site pathology services and coordinated the establishment of isolation facilities for both COVID-19 and diarrhoea disease for patients living in very high-density accommodations.
Our team treated 715 patients over 19 days, 15% aged five years or younger.
Approach
Multiple agency collaboration
Experts in collaboration with governments and agencies on highly complex projects, we collaborated with the United Arab Emirates and Australian Governments to ensure the safety of our patients on the ground and in transit to their new homes.
Rapid deployment
Our disaster response teams are always on call to deploy immediate medical infrastructure and personnel. As a result, we had people and facilities on the ground within 72 hours of receiving the request.
Integrated solutions
Through successful coordination with our Medical Supplies and Manufacturing team, Aspen Medical was able to source and supply 50,000 necessary N95 masks from our PPE manufacturing facility in Brisbane, Australia, during a critical shortage.
