MISSING PIECES - Inter-Parliamentary Union

MISSING PIECES
care to existing medical staff. 44 Parliamentarians can be proactive in asking
for assessments of first responder capability and identifying areas for
improvement.
The coordinated participation of a number of stakeholders is needed
to develop and administer assistance services for those affected by small
arms injuries:
Health professionals—The care of victims involves planning for emergency
and rehabilitation medical services, developing effective communication
protocols, ensuring efficient emergency transportation and organising
longer-term treatment once the patient is stabilised. Professional health
and medical organisations can be instrumental in developing policy informed
by a reliable evidence base to provide accessible and relevant services,
appropriately trained providers and support to the numerous (often
unpaid) care-givers who assist survivors. In some settings assistance measures
also need to include security both for affected individuals and health
care providers. 45
Non-medical personnel—The fast and effective treatment of gun injuries
relies not only on health professionals, but other professionals, such as
police and transport workers. Particularly in settings with weak infrastructure
or where medical professionals are scarce, basic training in first
aid treatments and secondary prevention skills can be a very effective investment
in improving survival rates.
Parliamentarians and policymakers—While the ‘bottom up’ approach taken
by hospitals and health facilities is a critical stop-gap, victim assistance
simply will not improve overall without leadership from ministries of health
and justice or interior and coordination across other agencies (for example,
employment and social services) and local governments/municipalities.
Supporters and caregivers—The burden of providing the bulk of care to
disabled and seriously injured victims often falls to the formal and informal
network of family, friends, and other community members. A large
proportion of care falls on women—mothers, wives, sisters, partners—
often decreasing their opportunities to engage in economic activities, and
contributing to the deterioration of their own health. 46 Yet these actors are
more often than not, overlooked and under-resourced in the life-long help
they provide.
Survivors—Often voiceless in key decisions that affect their future, armed
violence survivors need to become more active in informing service options
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