As we have come to know, massive natural disasters are becoming increasingly frequent, affecting directly many areas of the world and indirectly humanity as a whole. The WPA, embodying 130 national psychiatric societies, over 180,000 psychiatrists, and 64 scientific sections, feels concerned to respond solidariously in each case to the suffering of the directly involved psychiatric societies, individual colleagues and the population they serve.
Our response, based on our constitution and particular expertise and resources, must focus on assisting our member societies and related health professional groups to fulfill their responsibilities in helping local populations and organizations to deal with the psychosocial consequences of disasters. This would often involve educational efforts based on adequate situational assessments and carefully prepared and culturally informed health actions. These activities would be promoted by engaging and assisting competent and committed local member societies and groups organizationally and financially to carry out assessments and action programs in coordination with national and international efforts, including those of the World Health Organization (WHO).
INVOLVED WPA STRUCTURES
The work of WPA on disaster response is being operationalized through the following WPA structures:
The WPA Executive Committee, for policy formulation and monitoring.
The Institutional Program on Disasters and Mental Health, chaired by G. Christodoulou (Greece), for broad operational coordination.
The Scientific Section on Disasters, chaired by M. Benyakar (Argentina), for the development of academic resources. Other relevant contributors of academic materials include the Sections on Developing Countries, Emergency Psychiatry, Rural Psychiatry, and Women's Mental Health among others.
Appointed local task forces (incorporating Zonal Representatives, Member Societies and other local groups), for basic situational assessment and the preparation of strong and budgeted protocols. Presently, these task forces include the following: a) the WPA South Asian Tsunami Task Force chaired by P. Deva (Malaysia), b) the WPA Inter-Sectional Task Force on Katrina and related North American Hurricanes chaired by J. McIntyre (USA), and c) the WPA Task Force on the Kashmir Earthquake chaired by H. Chaudhry (Pakistan) and co-chaired by J.K. Trivedi (India).
The functioning of the above listed central and local structures will be overseen by the WPA President. Furthermore, H. Herrman (Australia) (WPA Secretary for Publications) will assist as needed the Institutional Program and the local task forces, particularly those in WPA Region IV (Asia/Australasia).
WPA DISASTERS FUND
A significant structure to help the implementation of the above policies is the WPA Disasters Fund. It was originally established by the 2002-2005 Executive Committee through an allocation of US$ 50,000 from central funds, an amount used for a planning meeting in Cairo, for the development of an operational package by the WPA Disasters Section, and for training programs in Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
The new Executive Committee agreed recently to advance US$ 10,000 for the WPA Task Force on the Kashmir Earthquake to support the completion and documentation of an initial assessment of disaster related psychosocial training needs and to prepare strong protocols for specific projects.
The new plan also calls for donations to the Disasters Fund both from WPA Member Societies and from foundations and relevant industry. These funds will be used to cover quickly assigned allocations for initial situational assessments of future disasters and to support well prepared protocols of greater magnitude.
COMING TO THE FIELD IN AGRA
A field meeting with key WPA central and local leaders on disasters was held on December 3, 2005 within the framework of the International Conference of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Agra, India. This meeting reviewed the new WPA policy and plans on disasters response, emphasizing the need for proactive communication with governments, WHO and Member Societies when a disaster occurs (readiness) as well as in ensuring preparedness for disaster response. Also suggested was the formation of national sections on disasters within Member Societies linked to the WPA Disasters Section and the establishment of a database on disaster leaders, experts, resources, and experiences to be housed in the WPA website.
A preliminary evaluation of the South Asian Tsunami Task Force documented the limitations of psychosocial responses overall and the critical role of psychiatrists in acute care and rehabilitation efforts. It was reported that the WPA assigned funds for training programs in Sri Lanka and Indonesia where put to good use, with a further specification in process.
Concerning the Task Force on the Kashmir Earthquake, it was proposed that its membership include the presidents of the Pakistani and Indian Psychiatric Societies, currently A. Malik and S. Nambi, as well as A. Javed and U. Niaz, in addition to co-chairs H. Chaudhry and J.K. Trivedi. An Advisory Group will include the other WPA Zonal Representatives and Member Societies in Region IV.
COLOPHON
When a major disaster strikes, often with enormous mental health consequences to individuals and communities, the increasingly small world in which we live must come together in partnership, and WPA has a significant role to play in it. The new policies and plans on disasters response outlined above reflect WPA commitment to engage all its structures (Executive Committee, Institutional Program, Sections, Zonal Representatives, and Member Societies) to respond effectively to the challenges we face and to enhance our capacity to learn from these experiences. New steps will follow as well as efforts to appraise their impact.