Health Information for Disaster Preparedness in Latin America Central American Disaster Health Information Network Presentation to: EnHIOP, Tallahassee, FL By: John C. Scott Center for Public Service Communications On behalf of: National Library of Medicine

Project Origins Hurricane Mitch El Salvador Earthquakes

Project Goal Support, rebuild, and improve the health information infrastructure of Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador and Guatemala: Technology infrastructure Training of health science librarians Information product development

is Managing Disasters is Managing Information Reliable information is the most valued commodity before and after a disaster.

Background Hurricane Mitch October 1998 El Salvador Earthquakes Jan./Feb. 2001

NLM/PAHO Special ProjectPAHO Unique opportunity for collaboration between NLM, as the world’s largest medical library and PAHO whose mission is improving the health of the people of the Americas Use the Regional Disaster Information Center for Latin America and the Caribbean (CRID) as contractor

CRID Collect and disseminate literature on disasters DESASTRES bibliographic database Over 15,000 disaster-related documents or

Disaster Information Management Wealth of information but little is accessible Information about lessons learned is valuable throughout the region, but little in writing and often not circulated. Grey Literature Disaster health information in developing countries is perishable: it’s not peer-reviewed; frequently unpublished Internet Access Internet access has been limited, but this is changing. Info access has gone from weeks/months to minutes and from hard copy to searchable electronic files

Participating Sites - Honduras University of Honduras Medical School Centro Universitario Region Norte

Participating Sites - Nicaragua School of Public Health of UNAN University of Nicaragua Medical School

Participating Sites – El Salvador Center for the Protection against Disasters Health Documentation & Information Center, Ministry of Health & University of El Salvador

Participataing Site: Guatemala Universidad de San Carlos, Biblioteca de la Facultad de Medicina Note: Guatemala was funded by U.K. via PAHO

Project Objectives Training of health science librarians Improving technology infrastructure Development of Information Products

Librarian Training Four train-the-trainers courses Costa Rica ( 2001); Bethesda, MD (2001) Nicaragua (2002); Guatemala (2004) Librarians and computer specialists Additional training Librarians now training professionals, researchers, government officials, community organizations, etc in their own countries

Technology Infrastructure Computer Equipment Installation Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica (Summer 2001) El Salvador (Summer 2002) Guatemala (January 2004) Each site received a server, router, UPS, switch, laser printer, scanner, and two PCs Internet Connectivity 128K in Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador 256K at CRID

Information Products Digital Library 3,800 documents digitized and available through the CRID web site Links from DESASTRES database to documents Documents also available from local disaster information centers CDs: Top 100 documents special topics

Information Products (continued) Document accessibility Develop full-text searching capability of documents Web site development by participating sites Health resources Disaster resources Local resources

Future Activities Disaster Health Information Center Toolkit Expansion of Network Funding from UK to add Guatemala Possible Caribbean, South America expansion Increased attention to related issues: environmental health/toxicology Promotion and Evaluation Information Product Development Information Technology Support

Evaluation and Sustainability Use of NLM and CRID resources by participating sites for disaster planning Incorporate information resources into curriculum Migrate program to local management with continued support from the international donor community

Lessons Learned Success requires leadership and vision at many levels Multiple sites require time, energy, patience,flexibility Collaboration requires sensitivity to linguistic and cultural issues Partnerships require teamwork and compromise Possible applicability in US states/local communities Value in NLM-PAHO collaboration

Conclusion Dissemination of quality information is: the most cost effective disaster reduction activity and a way to empower national and local communities

Project Team NLM: Ms. Stacey Arnesen; Mr. Victor Cid Dr. Melvin Spann PAHO: Mr. Ricardo Perez CRID: Mr. Dave Zervaas and staff CPSC: Mr. John Scott

Project Team Dave Zervaas & CRID staff Mel Spann, NLMStacey Arnesen, Victor Cid. NLM Ricardo Perez, PAHO; John Scott, CPSC Central American librarians & computer specialists Cecilia Garcia, UNAH