|
NOTICE:
The International Emergency Management Society's Transportation Saftey and Security Workshop Janurary 28-29th 2003
|
Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and
Risk Management
Crisis and Emergency Management
|
NOTICE: The ICDRM's monthly emergency managment forum, held at the GWU |
| December
2002
Volume 3 - Number 3 |
|
Links:
Current events
|
HHS, Bioterrorism Grants, and First Responders
By: Brandy Christine Berker-Keippala
On January 31, 2002 the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released over 1 billion dollars in bioterrorism grants. On June 6, 2002 the Secretary of HHS, Tommy Thompson, “approved comprehensive state plans to build stronger public health systems and better prepare for bioterrorism, marking the first time that federal, state and local governments have created a unified plan for responding to public health emergencies resulting from terrorism.” The majority of the funding is divided between the HHS’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HHS recognizes that “hospitals play a critical role in both identifying and responding to any potential terrorism attack or disease outbreak.” The division and allocation of funds represents the shift in normal first responder activities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided $918 million to in support of state level public health emergency preparedness, bioterrorism, and infectious diseases. Under this program, education and training are one of the six focus areas. Under the education and training focus, the grant allows for training needs assessment in the public health sector and implementation of bioterrorism preparedness training and response. Assessing the training gaps of health professionals, developing training plans, identifying training resources, implementing distance learning, and developing partnerships are also goals of this program. Health Resources and Services Administration provided $125 million to assist states in the creation of regional hospital plans in response to terrorism attacks. HRSA specifically states, “the purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to upgrade the preparedness of the Nation’s hospitals and collaborating entities to respond to bioterrorism. This will also allow the health care system to become more prepared to deal with nonterrorist epidemics of rare diseases. The prime focus will be on identification and implementation of bioterrorism preparedness plans and protocols for hospitals and other participating health care entities. Development of statewide or regional models for such protocols is encouraged, as is collaboration with other States and expert national organizations.” The grant also allowed the expansion of Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS). The addition of 25 cities to the MMRS program means that 80% of the US population will be covered by an MMRS plan. “The MMRS emphasizes enhancement of local planning and response capability, as well as hospital capacity, tailored to each jurisdiction, to care for victims of a terrorist incident involving a weapon of mass destruction” |