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HEALTH RELATED ISSUES IN DISASTERS. Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers ( Tennyson). Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Established in 1902 35 Member Governments 3 Participating European Governments PAHO serves as regional office for WHO.
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HEALTH RELATED ISSUES IN DISASTERS Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers ( Tennyson)
Pan American Health Organization(PAHO) • Established in 1902 • 35 Member Governments • 3 Participating European Governments • PAHO serves as regional office for WHO
Program on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization PAHO / WHO
LANDSLIDES EARTHQUAKES NATURAL DISASTERS FLOODS HURRICANES VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS OTHERS
RADIATION ACCIDENTS AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS EXPLOSIONS TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERS FIRES CHEMICAL ACCIDENTS OTHERS
“COMPLEX” DISASTERS CIVIL STRIFE ARMED CONFLICTS Refugees, IDP
Disasters and Development Mitigation and Preparedness Preparedness and Response Response 1976 Earthquake in Guatemala 1985 Earthquake in Mexico 1990 IDNDR Latin America and the Caribbean move from Ad Hoc Disaster Response to Prevention
Before a Disaster After a Disaster Program Objectives Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness Coordinationof International Assistance
Before a disaster • Building national capacity through training( standardized but adapted to local context) • Strengthening Ministry of Health disaster programs • Special projects: • Promote Hospital mitigation • SUMA • CRID
Human Resources Development , not stockpiling equipment, is the key to Preparedness . . . Workshops/ short courses University training
Strengthening Institutions The National Health DisasterProgram must: • encompass entire health sector • lead the health sector in disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, early rehabilitation • have a multi-hazard scope (natural, technological, “complex” disasters) • coordinate with other sectors
Belize Karl Heusner Hospital Hurricane Keith Photo Tony Gibbs
The WHO/PAHO standardized methodology and tool to manage large amounts of humanitarian supplies.
Regional Disaster Information Center • 12,000 documents on disaster-related topics • “THE” source of material in Spanish • Internet Access
PAHO/WHO Cooperation in Disasters • Coordinates International Health Assistance • Provides Technical Cooperation in health • Assist with rapid needs assessment • Coordination with Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, National Disaster Agency, UN Org.’s
External assistance post disaster PAHO/WHO MSF DHA/UNDP France USA Red Cross National Societies Canada UNHCR OXFAM IFRCS ConvenioHipólito Unánue (CHU) WFP Japan European Union/ECHO UNFPA OAS Nordic countries WHO/PAHO CARE United Kingdom Netherlands CRS ICRC PADF SICA/CEPREDENAC UNICEF CDERA Local NGO
Assistance to disaster affected country • Japan, UK, USA/OFDA, Red Cross, ICRC, UNDP, CARE, MSF, UNDAC. CIDA • The Netherlands,ECHO, ICRC, local NGO, IFRC, OXFAM, OCHA, CDERA, RSS, CARICOM, OAS,
SUB-REGIONAL AGENCIES • CDERA/CEPREDENAC • RSS • PAHO • Federation of the Red Cross • OFDA • Agreements
National Support Network • Health Disaster Focal Points • Ministries of Health • PAHO/WHO • Disaster Focal Points • Foreign Affairs ,UN agencies
The principles of Coordinationand national responsibility • Generating reliable Information • Developing technical experience • Cultivating the credibility • Learning to say “no” • serving the health sector rather than the donors
BILATERAL MULTILATERAL NGOs International Assistancein Perspective . . . ASSISTANCE FROM WITHIN THE COUNTRY EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE (1-2%)
Health & Disasters • Immediate Needs • Managed by local emergency response • Short Term Needs • Water, Shelter, food , medicines Epidemiological Surveillance, Etc. • Long Term Needs • Rehabilitation of Health Infrastructure,
Health Related Issues • Myths • External Emergency Assistance (SAR, field hospitals and surgeons) needed • Any donation is Acceptable • Disease Outbreaks Occur w/in the Population or from dead bodies • Immunization is Necessary
Reality • Local response within the first days • Public health problems and population displacement are more frequent and of slow onset. • In kind unsolicited donations • Dead bodies are DEAD, no epidemics • Rehabilitation of hospitals and water system needed when donors and media interest decrease
Conclusion • Disaster management is a multi sectorial and multi hazard business, so should training be • Many actors , therefore coordination remains a problem • Local presence and involvement in preparedness and training ensures a good response when necessary
FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHER 1980’s National sovereignityof the affected country is absolute 1990’s Donor countryknows best!