Experience of a Medical Assistance for Disaster Caused by a Typhoon of Haiyan in the Philippines

Yoo, Tae Ho; Jung, Won Suk; Sun, Kyeong Hoon; Park, Yong Jin; Kim, Sun Pyo; Kim, Seong Jung

Abstract

PURPOSE
On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan attacked the Philippines, causing damage to many houses and trees as well as loss of many lives. A medical team from our hospital and university was sent to Philippines in order to provide medical assistance. We wish to describe our experiences of disaster medicine and discuss problems and improvement points.
METHODS
We analyzed the characteristics of patients who received medical treatment administered by us at Tagobon city in the Philippines for five days.
RESULTS
We provided medical services to 951 patients for five days. Most patients visited us for medical treatment not trauma. Almost all chief complaints were associated with respiratory, gastrointestinal, dermatologic, and ophthalmologic symptoms. We mainly treated the patients with medications.
CONCLUSION
During the subacute period after the disaster, most patients complained of medical and dermatologic problems due to lack of sanitation rather than traumatic complications. Medical assistance for disaster should be administered appropriately according to the types of diseases that occurduring each period after disaster.