Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine
CDHAM is harnessing the power of technology to improve medical training and response to disaster situations.
The U.S. Military is increasingly called upon to support both domestic and international disaster response and other humanitarian assistance efforts. These efforts often involve providing medical care in austere environments and in developing countries.
The Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine (CDHAM), established in 1998 within USU’s Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, serves as a central resource for the DoD, other government agencies and international partners. CDHAM’s staff has expertise in a broad range of areas, and its academic setting enables a multidisciplinary approach to disaster mitigation.
Expanding Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts
One of CDHAM’s new initiatives is its Afghanistan Healthcare Sector Medical Reachback Program. With almost no medical infrastructure in place, Afghanistan has one of the highest child and maternal mortality rates in the world. U.S. intervention helps, but offers only temporary relief. The CDHAM team has made the first of several planned trips to Afghanistan to help coordinate efforts to develop more long-term solutions.
Initially, they will work with the Afghan National Security Forces to help them further develop their health care infrastructure and conduct health care training programs, and integrate these efforts with the Afghan government. These efforts are intended to help to rebuild the civilian system and expand health care expertise within the country.
The Center supports the U.S. military with a wide range of health-related activities around the world. For example, CDHAM is working with the U.S. Southern Command to establish a sustainable HIV/AIDS prevention program for select Caribbean defense forces in seven countries. Additionally, the Center’s staff is assisting the government of Chad with developing a landmine assistance program that will help government and military forces provide quality care to victims of landmines. This type of educational program can serve as a model in countries where the health infrastructure is inadequate.
Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (DoD-GEIS)
CDHAM began supporting the Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (DoD-GEIS) as part of a pandemic influenza initiative. The Center serves as a training resource for commanders in the field to help them prepare for outbreaks of influenza and other emerging infectious diseases. HJF provides administrative and management support for CDHAM, as well as for the pandemic influenza initiative at DoD-GEIS.