With a training programme in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) project "EMT TTT" of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) brought its 2024 activities to a close. In heavy rain, but nevertheless in a good mood, the EMT partner organisations Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Centre (MDMC) from Indonesia and the WHO-classified German EMT International Search and Rescue (ISAR Germany) from 23 to 25 November 2024 as a joint "Twinning"-activity, an EMT readiness training programme was carried out. It was organised by the team from the EMT National Focal Point (EMT NFP) with headquarters in the RKI department ZIG 3 supported.
The EMT organisation MDMC is currently in the official WHO classification process as an international EMT, with the aim of being able to provide high-quality and logistically self-sufficient emergency medical aid. Since 2020 there has been a so-called. "Twinning" partnership between MDMC and ISAR Germany, which was recognised by the RKI as part of the Global Health Protection Programme (GHPP) is being promoted. The aim is to provide mutual support on the path from MDMC to EMT classification, a shared learning experience and a long-term partnership for both EMTs. The EMT preparedness training aimed to train all EMT responders from the MDMC personnel pool in setting up, handling and dismantling their logistical infrastructure during EMT deployment. This is important in preparation for WHO classification. Two experts from ISAR, who have already gone through the WHO classification process themselves, participated in the activity together with a member of the EMT NFP team. Representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Health and the WHO country office were also present. The training consisted of two intensive days held twice in a row to train all 84 MDMC pool members in two cohorts.
Day one began with a short introduction to discuss the training plan for the next two days. The MDMC-EMT then appointed a team leader to coordinate the set-up of the camp. One by one, the deployment tents were set up and the transport crates emptied until all the equipment was installed on site by the end of the day. The following day, the MDMC-EMT teams were divided into five groups to rotate through all EMT areas, including electricity, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), triage, management and treatment tents. Each of these stations was led by an MDMC expert in the respective field, who explained the specifications of the tent, its function and equipment to the groups. The ISAR experts also took part in the rotation to share their advice and experience and to learn from the specific EMT context of their partner organisation. At the end of the rotation, each group received scenario questions that had been prepared by MDMC and ISAR specialists and related to all the different EMT areas. Solutions were then discussed in groups and presented to all attendees.
After many lively presentations and discussions, it was finally time to dismantle the deployment tents and stow all the equipment in boxes. The last evening ended with an exchange of lessons learnt from the two days of training, where the question was answered together: "What worked well in this EMT setup and what can be improved?" The colleagues from ISAR also shared their technical and operational feedback to support MDMC's EMT classification process. It became clear that the varying levels of experience of the MDMC responders added value to the learning experience, as did the participation of ISAR members as another technical resource. After the training, participants reported that they were now better prepared for an international EMT deployment. However, one thing remained the same from start to finish: their high spirits, expressed in the singing of the MDMC EMT song, a song that the travellers from ISAR and RKI were eager to learn and sing together before returning home.
Text: RKI