Reopening a hospital laboratory in Banda Aceh

Abstract

Medical team GOLF departed Melbourne on Australia Day bound for Banda Aceh. This was an AusAID initiative coordinated by Emergency Management Australia (EMA). The group of 24 was the seventh Australian government team sent to tsunami devastated areas. The team consisted of surgeons, anaesthetists, nursing staff, paramedics, environmental and public health experts and a laboratory team, comprising Dr Geoff Hogg (pathologist), Kay Withnall and myself. Our brief was to provide public health and medical support to communities affected by the tsunami, to coordinate with other agencies and to support local health authorities.