A natural hazard and climate change vulnerability and adaptation tool was applied in Tonga to ide... more A natural hazard and climate change vulnerability and adaptation tool was applied in Tonga to identify health and health system-related climate and natural hazards, and to create and prioritize adaptation strategies and opportunities. During a 2-day multi-sectoral workshop, expert stakeholders prioritized the most extreme health-related and health system risks and devised a series of adaptation strategies. A series of health and health system impacts were identified and related to: cyclones/severe storms, increased average and extreme temperatures, flooding (including landslides), drought, wildfire, tsunami, earthquakes and volcanic activity. The main adaptation strategies identified improving drinking water security; development of Government procedures for drought management; linking health and climate data; increasing food security; improvements in urban design; training health workers; increasing evacuation center resilience in villages; increased research into management respon...
Background/Introduction:The Tonga Emergency Medical Assistance Team (TEMAT) responded to the Hung... more Background/Introduction:The Tonga Emergency Medical Assistance Team (TEMAT) responded to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) volcano and tsunami in early 2022. The HTHH volcano erupted violently on January 15, 2022 triggering a tsunami that struck many of Tonga’s 169 islands.1 84% of the country’s population was affected.2 Tonga’s undersea internet cable was cut, stopping most communication. At the time of the eruption/tsunami, Tonga was COVID-19-free with its borders effectively closed, forcing reliance on national emergency resources, including TEMAT.Objectives:Describe TEMAT’s response to the 2022 HTHH volcano eruption and tsunami.Method/Description:TEMAT deployed four rotations of clinical and public health teams in response to the eruption/tsunami. Team members included clinicians from the Ministry of Health, with logistics support from His Majesty’s Armed Forces. TEMAT carried out emergency assessments, facilitated medical evacuations, aided in the evacuation of an entire isl...
Background/Introduction:The Tonga Emergency Medical Assistance Team (TEMAT) responded to the Hung... more Background/Introduction:The Tonga Emergency Medical Assistance Team (TEMAT) responded to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) volcano and tsunami in early 2022. The HTHH volcano erupted violently on January 15, 2022 triggering a tsunami that struck many of Tonga’s 169 islands.1 84% of the country’s population was affected.2 Tonga’s undersea internet cable was cut, stopping most communication. At the time of the eruption/tsunami, Tonga was COVID-19-free with its borders effectively closed, forcing reliance on national emergency resources, including TEMAT.Objectives:Describe TEMAT’s response to the 2022 HTHH volcano eruption and tsunami.Method/Description:TEMAT deployed four rotations of clinical and public health teams in response to the eruption/tsunami. Team members included clinicians from the Ministry of Health, with logistics support from His Majesty’s Armed Forces. TEMAT carried out emergency assessments, facilitated medical evacuations, aided in the evacuation of an entire isl...
A natural hazard and climate change vulnerability and adaptation tool was applied in Tonga to ide... more A natural hazard and climate change vulnerability and adaptation tool was applied in Tonga to identify health and health system-related climate and natural hazards, and to create and prioritize adaptation strategies and opportunities. During a 2-day multi-sectoral workshop, expert stakeholders prioritized the most extreme health-related and health system risks and devised a series of adaptation strategies. A series of health and health system impacts were identified and related to: cyclones/severe storms, increased average and extreme temperatures, flooding (including landslides), drought, wildfire, tsunami, earthquakes and volcanic activity. The main adaptation strategies identified improving drinking water security; development of Government procedures for drought management; linking health and climate data; increasing food security; improvements in urban design; training health workers; increasing evacuation center resilience in villages; increased research into management respon...
Background/Introduction:The Tonga Emergency Medical Assistance Team (TEMAT) responded to the Hung... more Background/Introduction:The Tonga Emergency Medical Assistance Team (TEMAT) responded to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) volcano and tsunami in early 2022. The HTHH volcano erupted violently on January 15, 2022 triggering a tsunami that struck many of Tonga’s 169 islands.1 84% of the country’s population was affected.2 Tonga’s undersea internet cable was cut, stopping most communication. At the time of the eruption/tsunami, Tonga was COVID-19-free with its borders effectively closed, forcing reliance on national emergency resources, including TEMAT.Objectives:Describe TEMAT’s response to the 2022 HTHH volcano eruption and tsunami.Method/Description:TEMAT deployed four rotations of clinical and public health teams in response to the eruption/tsunami. Team members included clinicians from the Ministry of Health, with logistics support from His Majesty’s Armed Forces. TEMAT carried out emergency assessments, facilitated medical evacuations, aided in the evacuation of an entire isl...
Background/Introduction:The Tonga Emergency Medical Assistance Team (TEMAT) responded to the Hung... more Background/Introduction:The Tonga Emergency Medical Assistance Team (TEMAT) responded to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) volcano and tsunami in early 2022. The HTHH volcano erupted violently on January 15, 2022 triggering a tsunami that struck many of Tonga’s 169 islands.1 84% of the country’s population was affected.2 Tonga’s undersea internet cable was cut, stopping most communication. At the time of the eruption/tsunami, Tonga was COVID-19-free with its borders effectively closed, forcing reliance on national emergency resources, including TEMAT.Objectives:Describe TEMAT’s response to the 2022 HTHH volcano eruption and tsunami.Method/Description:TEMAT deployed four rotations of clinical and public health teams in response to the eruption/tsunami. Team members included clinicians from the Ministry of Health, with logistics support from His Majesty’s Armed Forces. TEMAT carried out emergency assessments, facilitated medical evacuations, aided in the evacuation of an entire isl...
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