Achieved one of ARCH Project outcomes ～Mock-up Basic Disaster Health Management Course（B-course）in Bangkok～

4-7 July 2023, Basic Disaster Health Management Course（B-course）was conducted with the participants from 10 ASEAN Member States including Thailand as the leading country of course development, and Japan.

In Knowledge Management as one of the outcomes of the ARCH Project, development of standard curriculum is an indicator of the achievement, and this B-course has been developed lad by Thai Taskforce of ARCH Project who invited from the National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM) in Sub-working group of PWG 2.

On the discussion during the development of the regional standard curriculum, it needs to be overcome several biases on how to conceptualize and standardize the terminologies especially medical terms, and language barriers for more efficient provision of the training course. Beforehand, NIEM had conducted trial B-course for the domestic EMT practitioners (doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians (paramedic), and logisticians) in Surat Thani, Southern part of Thailand. They evaluated and analyzed the efficiency of contents, provision of contents, and cost analysis was also conducted for more concrete operation plans for their preparations.

The aim of this course is to equip training instructors in each ASEAN Member State (AMS) with the ability to plan, design, prepare, deliver, and manage training programs at the national level. Participants are expected to manage these training programs using the curricula and materials developed under the ARCH Project. This objective is aligned with that of the separately developed Coordination Course (C Course), which shares the same overarching goal.

【Programme】

The course consists of two components: online self-paced learning (online learning) and in-person training. Prior to attending the in-person session, participants are required to complete the online modules, which provide foundational knowledge and ensure a shared understanding of key concepts. The in-person training emphasizes active learning through group work, starting from conceptual sessions and case discussions on the first day. Team-building is also a core focus, facilitated through interactive activities such as simulation games developed by the Thai Taskforce, which help prepare participants for the Tabletop Exercise (TTX) held in the latter part of the course.

This course is designed not only for medical professionals but also for non-medical personnel such as logisticians who are part of EMTs. The program includes tailored content that addresses the specific knowledge and skills required for different roles within EMTs, ensuring that both medical and non-medical participants can gain relevant competencies.
The course culminates in a comprehensive tabletop exercise (TTX), during which participants are divided into teams to carry out the full cycle of EMT operations—from assessment and coordination by the EMT Coordination Cell (EMTCC) to deployment and field activities.

This session was conducted as a mock-up course, with participants selected from ASEAN Member States (AMS) who have the potential to serve as future course facilitators. Upon completion of the course, an After Action Review (AAR) was held, during which participants provided feedback from multiple perspectives based on their experience in the program. These insights will be used to further improve the course content and delivery.
Looking ahead, the course is expected to be rolled out progressively in each AMS. The Thai Taskforce, which led the course development, is expected to play an active role as part of the regional pool of trainers, supporting future implementations across ASEAN.