Regional and International Perspectives and Updates in Disaster Management 01 July 2008

1. . . Regional and International Perspectives and Updates in Disaster Management 01 July 2008

2. Purpose To provide an update on regional and international perspectives and issues in disaster management and PAHO’s technical cooperation in disaster risk reduction in the Caribbean over the past year

3. Outline • International updates • HDC 2007 priorities implementation • Other key activities • Upcoming activities

4. International Updates • ISDR –WHO World Disaster Reduction Campaign, 2008-2009, Hospitals safe from Disasters • Consultation on Global Humanitarian Trends and their Implications on Institutions in the Americas • Most intense disasters in 2008– earthquake in China and Cyclone in Myanmar • Humanitarian Reform: Cluster and CERF

5. Priorities from HDC 2007 • Support mass casualty management training for trainers • Support the safe hospital initiative • Sustain support for preparations for pandemic influenza • Facilitate mechanisms for more intense sharing of information among health and disaster professionals

6. MCM Training for Trainers • Purpose • To increase cadre of instructors for the MCM course in the Caribbean • Response to HDC 2007 priority request • Trainings • 20 – 28 June 2008 , Falmouth, Jamaica (13 participants from Belize, Bermuda, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad ) • Two more before end of 2008

7. Safe Hospital Initiative • DIPECHO Project: Strengthening Communities through safer health facilities in the Caribbean • Eight countries (Anguilla, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines)

8. Safe Hospital Initiative • XXX Caribbean personnel trained to apply the Hospital Safety Index (+, Jamaica, Trinidad, Belize) • Discussions with CROSQ to support revision of Caribbean building code

9. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness • Support provided to countries • NIPPP self assessments (21 countries) • NIPPP action plan development (4 countries) • Simulation drills (2 countries; 7 observer countries) • Rapid response team trainings (10 countries) • Table top simulation exercises (16 countries) • Provision of PPEs

10. Mechanisms for Information Sharing • Implementing suggestions from HDC 2007 • Web site • Elluminate • List serv • Exploring other possibilities

11. Other Key Activities • Training in MCM/IC, ECAT, LSS • Disaster Response (Hurricane Dean Dominica, St. Lucia and Jamaica; Tropical Storm Noel Bahamas; Flooding in Belize and Suriname) • Wind Hazard Maps

12. Training Courses2007-08

13. Disaster Response Activities • Hurricane Dean in Jamaica, August 2007 • Deployed Regional Response Team • Trained 10 staff in LSS/SUMA • Mobilized resources for response and recovery (ECHO and USAID)

14. Disaster Response Activities • Flooding in Belize, June 2008 • Deployed expert in water and sanitation • Mobilized resources for response and recovery • Flooding in Suriname, June 2008 • Technical support provided through local PAHO office

15. Wind Hazard Maps • Developed for Caribbean islands and nearby coastal areas of Central and South America • PAHO to host series of two day courses in the Caribbean for public and private sector engineers

16. Activities on the Radar • Elderly in Disasters Initiative • Fifth WHO Public Health Pre-Deployment Course • World Health Day 2009 • Winds of change II

17. Thank you