E MERGENCY P REPAREDNESS AND D ISASTER MITIGATION.

EEMERGENCYMERGENCY

PPREPAREDNESS ANDREPAREDNESS AND

DDISASTER MITIGATIONISASTER MITIGATION

Vulnerability to disasters is not Vulnerability to disasters is not compatible with physical, mental compatible with physical, mental or social wellbeing.or social wellbeing.

Scope of the ProgramScope of the Program

NATURALNATURALDISASTERSDISASTERS

““COMPLEX”COMPLEX”DISASTERSDISASTERS

TECHNOLOGICALTECHNOLOGICALDISASTERSDISASTERS

PreparednessPreparedness

Pre-disaster activities aimed at Pre-disaster activities aimed at strengthening the capacity for strengthening the capacity for ResponseResponse (rescue, medical care…)(rescue, medical care…)

PreventionPrevention Measures designed to provide complete Measures designed to provide complete

protection from natural disasters by protection from natural disasters by controlling effects of natural phenomena.controlling effects of natural phenomena.

Prevention in an imperfect world!Prevention in an imperfect world!Reduction of the impact!Reduction of the impact!

MitigationMitigation

In the last 15 years, the focus In the last 15 years, the focus given to risk and disaster given to risk and disaster management has changed management has changed dramatically.dramatically.

Latin America and the Caribbean move from Latin America and the Caribbean move from Ad Hoc Disaster Response to PreventionAd Hoc Disaster Response to Prevention

Disasters andDisasters andDevelopmentDevelopment

Mitigation andMitigation andPreparednessPreparedness

PreparednessPreparednessand Responseand Response

ResponseResponse19761976

EarthquakeEarthquakein Guatemalain Guatemala

19851985EarthquakeEarthquakein Mexicoin Mexico

19991999MitchMitch

1. Strengthening Institutions1. Strengthening Institutions2. Training2. Training3. Special priorities3. Special priorities

• hospital and water systems hospital and water systems mitigationmitigation

• Disaster Information CenterDisaster Information Center

The prime objective within the The prime objective within the Health SectorHealth Sector

• Strengthening of the national Health Strengthening of the national Health Emergency Preparedness program in the Emergency Preparedness program in the ministry of health (with professional staff, ministry of health (with professional staff, a budget and access to decision-making)a budget and access to decision-making)

Strengthening Institutions

The Role of a Disaster Program in The Role of a Disaster Program in the Ministry of Health the Ministry of Health

• Contingency planning and trainingContingency planning and training• coordination of the sector responsecoordination of the sector response• Advocacy of health in other sectorsAdvocacy of health in other sectors• inclusion of disaster reduction measures inclusion of disaster reduction measures

in development activitiesin development activities• public educationpublic education

Strengthening Institutions

The National Health DisasterThe National Health DisasterProgram must:Program must:

• Lead the Lead the entireentire health sector health sector• Mobilize the sector for disaster prevention, Mobilize the sector for disaster prevention,

mitigation, preparedness, response and early mitigation, preparedness, response and early rehabilitationrehabilitation

• Have a multi-hazard scope (natural, Have a multi-hazard scope (natural, technological, “complex” disasters)technological, “complex” disasters)

• Coordinate with other sectorsCoordinate with other sectors

Strengthening Institutions

We need also to offer technical We need also to offer technical support to. . .support to. . .

• Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs• mass mediamass media• armed forcesarmed forces• industry/private sectorindustry/private sector• NGOs and volunteersNGOs and volunteers• parliamentsparliaments• civil society...civil society...

Strengthening Institutions

Cooperation with Foreign AffairsCooperation with Foreign Affairs

• national policy on external assistance (received or national policy on external assistance (received or offered by the country)offered by the country)

• mutual assistance agreements with other countriesmutual assistance agreements with other countries• guidelines for diplomatic/consular personnelguidelines for diplomatic/consular personnel

• channel offers/requests for external assistancechannel offers/requests for external assistance• call donors meetingscall donors meetings• security of foreigners in the country or of nationals security of foreigners in the country or of nationals

abroadabroad

Strengthening Institutions

Before a disaster:Before a disaster:

After a disaster:After a disaster:

Cooperation with Legislative Cooperation with Legislative BodiesBodies

Strengthening Institutions

To promote legislation for disaster To promote legislation for disaster Reduction:Reduction:

prevention, preparedness and response.prevention, preparedness and response.

1. Strengthening institutions1. Strengthening institutions2. Training2. Training3. Special priorities3. Special priorities

• hospital and water systems hospital and water systems mitigationmitigation

• Disaster Information CenterDisaster Information Center

Human Resources Development , Human Resources Development , not stockpiling equipment, is the not stockpiling equipment, is the

key to Preparedness . . .key to Preparedness . . .

University trainingUniversity training

Workshops/Workshops/short coursesshort courses

Workshops/Short CoursesWorkshops/Short Courses

– emergency health managementemergency health management

– hospital preparedness and mitigationhospital preparedness and mitigation

– environmental health managementenvironmental health management

– supplies management (SUMA)supplies management (SUMA)

– role of Ministries of Foreign Affairs in disastersrole of Ministries of Foreign Affairs in disasters

– mass media and public informationmass media and public information

– community preparedness….community preparedness….

Training

University TrainingUniversity Training

• introduction of Disaster Management in introduction of Disaster Management in the pre- and post-graduate curriculum in the pre- and post-graduate curriculum in faculties of Medicine, Nursing schools faculties of Medicine, Nursing schools and Public Health Schoolsand Public Health Schools

Training

1. Strengthening institutions1. Strengthening institutions2. Training2. Training3. Special priorities3. Special priorities

• hospital and water systems hospital and water systems mitigationmitigation

• Information disseminationInformation dissemination

Disaster Mitigation in Hospitals Disaster Mitigation in Hospitals and Water Supply Systemsand Water Supply Systems

HOSPITAL

• vulnerability vulnerability analysisanalysis

• improved design of improved design of new facilitiesnew facilities

• retrofitting existing retrofitting existing facilitiesfacilities

• norms, guidelines, norms, guidelines, and trainingand training

Vulnerability AnalysisVulnerability Analysis

• structuralstructural• nonstructuralnonstructural• functionalfunctional

Disaster Mitigation in Hospitals

A technical managerial toolA technical managerial toolA political instrument for transparencyA political instrument for transparency

A watch dog for inappropriate donationsA watch dog for inappropriate donations

Regional Disaster Information CenterRegional Disaster Information Center

• 12,000 documents on disaster-related topics12,000 documents on disaster-related topics

• multiagency, multidisciplinarymultiagency, multidisciplinary

• ““THE” source of material in SpanishTHE” source of material in Spanish

• Internet AccessInternet Access

• provides copies of documentsprovides copies of documents

Assistance in Case of a Disaster?Assistance in Case of a Disaster?

A failure of the Ministry of health A failure of the Ministry of health is our failure.is our failure.

The difference with Other UN The difference with Other UN organizations?organizations?