1 Disaster Risk Reduction in the Health Sector

2 Some traditional risks associated with dissters and emergencies Vector borne disease Epidemics Mental health Management of cadavers Lack of information for decision making Vector borne disease Epidemics Mental health Management of cadavers Lack of information for decision making

3 Are our Hospitals and Health Facilities Safe? Major disasters have left thousands of persons without access to health care. In most cases, this is because health facilities could not function. Major disasters have left thousands of persons without access to health care. In most cases, this is because health facilities could not function.

4 Impact on Health Increased risk of death or disability, especially among the sick and injured. Health personnel left without working infrastructure. Increased casualties, need for medical care and laboratory support, including loss of lives indirectly due to the disruption of services. Increased risk of death or disability, especially among the sick and injured. Health personnel left without working infrastructure. Increased casualties, need for medical care and laboratory support, including loss of lives indirectly due to the disruption of services.

5 Social and Economic Impact Public sense of security: health services are the backbone of lifesaving efforts, and must be safeguarded. Between , direct losses due to damage to health infrastructure was estimated at US$ 3.12 billion (ECLAC). Public sense of security: health services are the backbone of lifesaving efforts, and must be safeguarded. Between , direct losses due to damage to health infrastructure was estimated at US$ 3.12 billion (ECLAC).

6 A problem that can be solved... New hospitals are clearly identifiable at the local, national and international levels. It is no more costly to build a safe hospital than it is to build a hospital vulnerable to disasters. The cost of protection is negligible when included in the earliest phase of design. The later in the process, the more expensive. New hospitals are clearly identifiable at the local, national and international levels. It is no more costly to build a safe hospital than it is to build a hospital vulnerable to disasters. The cost of protection is negligible when included in the earliest phase of design. The later in the process, the more expensive.

7 Health Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction Wednesday, June 6 at 2:30 pm Status and trends in disaster risk reduction in the health sector at global level Case studies on why health facilities fail and what is being done Grenada Nepal Ensuring that hospitals can remain functional Philippines A low-cost, high impact tool to identify and reduce risk in health facilities: the Hospital Safety Index Introduction to the global ISDR/WHO Campaign on Safe Hospitals ( ) Status and trends in disaster risk reduction in the health sector at global level Case studies on why health facilities fail and what is being done Grenada Nepal Ensuring that hospitals can remain functional Philippines A low-cost, high impact tool to identify and reduce risk in health facilities: the Hospital Safety Index Introduction to the global ISDR/WHO Campaign on Safe Hospitals ( )

8 The good news… Well-built or retrofitted hospitals have remained functional following disasters. The health sector has solid examples and accumulated experience in improving safety of health infrastructure. Today, the knowledge exists to assess vulnerability and to reduce risk in health facilities. Well-built or retrofitted hospitals have remained functional following disasters. The health sector has solid examples and accumulated experience in improving safety of health infrastructure. Today, the knowledge exists to assess vulnerability and to reduce risk in health facilities.