Two emergency response experts from the Colombian Red Cross have joined the Canadian Red Cross for a week-long training to prepare for deployment with the Emergency Response Unit (ERU).
From the Colombian Red Cross are Luisa Salamanca and Lina Villa Ruiz, who join a team of Canadians as they prepare to be deployed with the Red Cross field hospital.
No stranger to working in disaster situations, Luisa has worked with Colombian Red Cross responding to emergencies involving displaced persons due to conflict, as well as responding to communities affected by massive flooding and landslides. “This is a big opportunity for me as I will be ready for deployment,” Luisa said.
The ERU is a field hospital that can be deployed in international emergencies within 48 hours. There are 41 professional healthcare, logistics experts are currently undergoing the intensive training taking place in Schomberg, Ontario. Once the training is complete, these Red Cross delegates may be called on to work internationally in countries affected by disaster.