A call-out to doctors

A NEW venture giving local doctors the chance to actively help Israel in times of need is being launched by Magen David Adom (MDA).

In collaboration with the Australian Jewish Medical Federation, the NSW Friends of MDA is introducing the initiative which could see benefits for both Israel and the community at home.

The idea is for doctors – general practitioners as well as specialists – to go to Israel for just under a week and undergo professional emergency training with MDA.

To be as fully prepared as possible for all eventualities, MDA is seeking to create an auxiliary unit in each of its friend societies, comprising doctors trained to respond quickly and efficiently in case of national emergencies.

In an Australian first, the aim is to establish an MDA auxiliary unit in Sydney, which could help out in Israel and in Australia should the need arise. MDA NSW president Roland Nagel told The AJN that the venture has the potential to be of great benefit to the community.

“An initiative like this is valuable because it provides a medical back-up to the community when an emergency or a crisis situation arises,” he said, drawing attention to France, which has been running the program for 12 years. Notably, the MDA Unit in Paris attended the scene of January’s supermarket siege, providing much-needed back-up to emergency personnel.

While hopefully this sort of expertise will never be required in Australia, “we just need to be prepared,” Nagel said.

Highlights of the program include participating in ambulance shifts, drills, and connecting with world-renowned experts in the field. Follow-up training and continuous refresher courses are also offered.

Nagel encouraged interested parties to attend an information session at 7pm on Sunday, June 21 at the Wolper Hospital.

For more information, contact Mandy at ajmfnsw@gmail.com, or gm@magendavidadom.org.au or call MDA on (02) 9358 2521.

PHOEBE ROTH

MDA in action.