Health, Disasters and Development Jean Luc Poncelet PAHO/WHO Module I

Agenda - 1- Introduction: Health, Disasters and Development 2- New actors in Risk Management

Part I- Introduction

Objective  Review of a few definitions  Describe the conceptual relation between health, emergencies, disasters, development and risk management.  Describe the context

Disasters What does the term “disaster” refer to? Sudden-impact event, natural or man- made. In combination with loss of life and/or economic loss Exceed the response capacity

Preparedness Ensure that appropriate systems, procedures, and resources are in place to provide prompt, effective assistance to disaster victims.

Mitigation Reduce the vulnerability of the system. Intend that disasters don’t occur.

Risk Risk ƒ Vulnerability. Hazard Where?: “Hazard” refers to the natural or man-made event. “Vulnerability” refers to the susceptibility of a population or system of being affect by hazards.

Disaster Management > < Risk Management Disaster approach: avoid the effects of what happened Risk: reduce the effects of what could happen

Emergency> < development Firemen Immediate solution Preparation Response Planner Medium or long term solution Mitigation prevention

Relation between development and disasters? Disasters are not natural, they are the result of the failure of development. Risk analysis is the first step to reduce the long-term effects of a disaster.

Evolution in the region Disasters and development Mitigation and preparedness preparedness Preparedness and response and response Response 1976Earthquake in Guatemala 1985Earthquake in Mexico 1998HurricaneMitch

Health, Disasters and Development Health, Disasters and Development

Disasters and Risk are part of Health WHO’s constitution defines: – Health is a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease.

Conclusions: Definitions are essential to define the scope, budget and leadership of any program

Comments?

Context and Tendencies in Risk Management

Tendencies in the Region Reduction of the state and decentralization Augmentation of inequities between poor and rich Increased population Industrial development Social conflicts?

Resources In general the required expertise exists but is limited in quantity Rare exceptions: cholera 1990 the Americas Lack of access to the decision level

New standards/ references ? Sphere Project Hospital accreditation Construction codes Laws...

New tendencies Growing interest of the private sector A substantial increase of the knowledge in each sub-specialty Creation of a disaster and risk management culture Fragmentation of powers and capacities Less authority by mandate more leadership required

Are we prepared for this new context?

Disaster and Risk Management? Construct the leadership before the event Know the risks in order to limit them Mobilize resources Information access and analysis Evaluation and reports

References CRID Thesaurus – OCHA Dictionary Sphere – Laws – Ecuador/desastre.html (legislation)