Disaster Preparedness for Durban, South Africa: First Developing Country to Host the 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer

Previous studies have alluded to the fact that International mass sports gatherings like the FIFA (Fe´de´ration Internationale de Football Association) World Cup Soccer and Olympics can cause great challenges to local healthcare systems and emergency medical services. History has shown that disasters do occur during these events, whether on a small or large scale. Disaster Management Practitioners from the public health perspective widely recognize that poor planning creates conditions of vulnerability. These result in insufficient capacity or measures to reduce hazards’ potentially negative consequences. Thus there existed a need for the eThekwini District to be prepared in the event of a mass disaster. The level of Hospitals’ Preparedness for a Mass Disaster during the 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer in the eThekwini District of KwaZulu-Natal had to be assessed. Pre-empting and planning for disasters would lead to the safety and security of our citizens. The aim of this study was to undertake a baseline survey (in a total number of eleven public sector hospitals) to assess the state of hospitals’ readiness, medical preparedness, and emergency care in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer in the eThekwini District. A general assessment tool in the form of a standard questionnaire, and a walkthrough visit with a checklist, was used to collect data. There was no previous study conducted at the eThekwini District to assess requirements for an international event in terms of a mass disaster. Currently, there are no international standards to generalize to the district or any developing country. The study proves that the key for any successful mastering of a crisis is to be well prepared. The public health approach in disaster management is thus imperative as it focuses on the preventative aspects, rather than a full curative plan of action.