Latin America & Caribbean Chapter
Latin America & Caribbean Chapter
Latin America and the Caribbean (LATAC) is one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions in the world exposed to natural hazards such as hurricanes, earthquakes, droughts, wildfires, mudslides, and floods. The frequency and intensity of many of these hazards are worsened by the impacts of climate change. The region also faces ongoing humanitarian crises from large migrations of people from Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and several countries in Central America. High levels of economic inequality and poverty and underdeveloped health systems exacerbate these challenges.
The LATAC Chapter of WADEM was founded to promote collaboration and integration among regional scientists and health professionals around research and education in the fields of disaster and emergency medicine and thus contribute to the improvement of its standards of practice in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
Watch the Recent LATAC Chapter Webinars
Webinar Date: 5 November 2025
Colaboración multisectorial en respuesta operativa ante emergencias y desastres
(español) Dr. Fabian Rosas aborda el papel fundamental de la cooperación multisectorial durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Basándose en evidencia empírica y experiencia vivida, la presentación explora cómo la colaboración intersectorial entre salud pública, administración pública, sectores económicos y otros actores clave facilitó una respuesta a la crisis más coordinada y eficaz. La sesión se centra en las lecciones aprendidas, las mejores prácticas y las estrategias de colaboración interinstitucional aplicables a los futuros desafíos en la gestión de emergencias.
La sesión ofrece una perspectiva científica y profesional sobre la importancia de la cooperación integral y el trabajo en equipo en tiempos de crisis nacionales y globales.
(English) In this presentation, Dr. Fabian Rosas addresses the critical role of multisectoral cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing upon empirical evidence and lived experience, the presentation explores how cross-sector collaboration among public health, public administration, economic sectors, and other key stakeholders facilitated a more coordinated and effective crisis response. The session focuses on lessons learned, best practices, and inter-agency collaboration strategies that apply to future challenges in emergency management.
This session offers a scientific and professional perspective on the significance of comprehensive cooperation and teamwork during periods of national and global crisis.
Webinar Date: 3 April 2025
El papel crucial de los urgenciólogos de los equipos de Búsqueda y Rescate: experiencias de Colombia
(español) En esta presentación, el Dr. Santiago Jiménez describe el papel crucial de los médicos de medicina de emergencia en las operaciones de búsqueda y rescate. Descubre cómo la intervención experta de un médico emergenciólogo transforma la atención prehospitalaria en búsqueda y rescate, crucial para mejorar el pronóstico del paciente atrapado. Conéctate y aprende de un experto, quien mostrará su experiencia en Colombia y otros países de la región de las Américas, y redefine tu visión del rol de la medicina de emergencias en este contexto particular, crucial en la respuesta a terremotos y otros eventos que requieren búsqueda y rescate.
(English) In this presentation, Dr. Santiago Jimenez describes the crucial role of emergency medicine physicians in search and rescue operations. Discover how the expert intervention of an emergency physician transforms prehospital care during search and rescue, which is crucial for improving the trapped patient’s prognosis. Connect and learn from this specialist, who will share their experience in Colombia and other countries across the Americas, and redefine your vision of emergency medicine’s role in this particular context, which is critical for responding to earthquakes and other events requiring search and rescue.
Webinar Date: 22 January 2025
Mass Gathering Events and Health Considerations
This presentation by Prof. Jamie Ranse provides a broad overview of mass gathering events and health considerations. It focuses on providing in-event health services at mass gatherings and their impact on community health services, such as emergency departments and ambulance services. The presentation also discusses challenges in providing health care at events, such as when disasters at mass gatherings and deliberate acts of harm occur.
LATAC Chapter Leadership
Amado Alejandro Báez, MD, MPH, PhD
Co-Chair
Professor of Emergency Medicine and Epidemiology; Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University
Darren Dookeeram, MBBS, DM, MBA
Co-Chair
Specialist Emergency Physician, Sangre Grande Hospital
Lecturer; School of Pharmacy, University of the West Indies
Lecturer; School of Pharmacy, University of the West Indies
Objectives
- Increase membership and promotion of WADEM´s goals across Latin America and the Caribbean;
- Promote a paradigm shift from “response” to integral emergency risk management;
- Encourage a culture of disaster and emergency preparedness in the region;
- Enhance regional development of knowledge, capacities and motivation for disaster risk reduction;
- Adapt and implement international standards in the practice of disaster and emergency medicine in the region and contribute with findings and lessons learned in the process; and
- Establish a community of practice for discussion, communication and exchange of information among regional members about disasters and related subjects.
Goals
- Research on key topics that are of common concern for the region;
- Highlight government decisions that are key for emergency risk management through the members at the local level and through partners at an international level;
- Promote joint training activities and sharing of expertise and good practices; and
- To increase the availability of worldwide disaster risk literature to local populations and promote its adaptation and application.
