ADPC conducted a hospital simulation exercise with the Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh on 27 April 2015, as part of USAID’s Strengthening Earthquake Resilience in Bangladesh (SERB) program. The simulation focused on operation management and the hospital’s organization during a disastrous event, giving the hospital an opportunity to assess its coordination mechanisms, especially between the departments and wards. ADPC also trained the hospital management in setting up and activating an incident management team.

Seventy practitioners from the emergency department, wards and administration participated in the full-day event supported by the Bangladesh Fire Service & Civil Defense and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. Community volunteers from Sylhet City Corporation acted as patients during the exercise to create a realistic scenario.

“The simulation resulted in a number of lessons learned and identified best practices. The importance of a clear and agreed exercise plan was emphasized,” says ADPC’s Program Manager Mr. John Abo leading the simulation.

The simulation provided an opportunity for the hospital to test its emergency response capacity and build a response system based on these lessons learned. ADPC will, through USAID’s Strengthening Earthquake Resilience in Bangladesh program, continue to support the hospital in building its capacity for large-scale emergency response.

Participants from Sylhet MAG Osmani College Hospital working during the training course.