A quick overview of the Emergency Medicine in Africa.

1. Emergency Medicine in
Africa
The Conditions And Realities In Africa

2. oDeveloping countries have EMS systems that
are undeveloped or poor, higher mortality from
trauma and other emergencies

3. Statistics
oTrauma is the second-leading cause of death for
ages 5-45 worldwide with every day 300,000 people
being severely injured and 10,000 of those dying.
oRTI deaths projected to increase globally by 65
percent by 2020
oIn 2005, 90% of all trauma deaths occurred in low
or middle income countries
oOver 2 million people worldwide do not have access
to essential medical care

4. Existing Hospitals
oShortage in staff
• Not very many in emergency
medicine
oLimited facilities
oShortage of supplies
oFew ambulances
• Poor roads, long distances, lack of vehicles

5. Transportation
oTransit used for EMS include motorboats,
canoes, bicycles with trailers, tricycles with
platforms, tractors, reconditioned vehicles, and
ox carts
oMore cost-effective

6. Current EMS
oEM is still a new specialty
oMany health professionals are not qualified in
critical care
oFacilities are overwhelmed by emergencies

7. Triage
oSee patients on a ‘first-come-first served’ basis
• Causes avoidable deaths and disabilities

8. First Aid
oOnly 16% received care on crash site in Kenya
oOut of those, 74% were from the public

9. This needs to change!
Read more: https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B64AbNvfRbIcQmd5dnhyaFN0Zzg