Caribbean countries are particularly vulnerable to the impact of natural hazards and damage to hospitals feature highly among losses reported. Functional collapse is the main cause of hospitals being out of service after a disaster; only a small percentage of them are out of service exclusively due to structural damage. The major reason for the collapse of health infrastructure and corresponding deaths was due to the fact that hospitals are constructed without taking into account natural hazards, and that systems progressively deteriorate due to lack of maintenance over time.

Climate Health Care Facilities Policy

The Pan American Health Organization is seeking to contract a suitably qualified and experienced consultant/firm to undertake work associated with the development of a model ‘Climate Smart Health Facilities Policy’ for the Caribbean. The SMART Hospital is designed to establish an integrated approach to health care facility design featuring both environmentally green and disaster resilient institutions in the Caribbean.  This Initiative will enhance the quality of health care and include benefits of cost saving, reduced GHG emissions, improved air quality, reduced transmissions of airborne infections and aggravation of respiratory conditions, increased productivity, staff and patient satisfaction, enhanced physical access to hospitals and improved access to safe water. Terms of Reference for: SMART Health Care Facilities Policy

Deadline for submission of proposals is 4 March 2013

Establishment of Technical Competency Standards for Emergency Response Professionals Providing Care in a Mass Casualty Event

The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) actively supports a variety of training opportunities to enhance health disaster management skills and to improve knowledge and capacity in technical areas such as mass casualty management, emergency care and treatment, incident command concepts, assessment of health needs, preparedness for disaster events and more.

PAHO is seeking Technical Assistance to undertake the development and application of Technical Competency Standards for Emergency Response Professionals providing care in a mass casualty event. Terms of Reference-Competency Standards is attached.

Deadline for submission of proposals is 4 March 2013

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are exposed to various natural and manmade hazards. We must be able to rely on our hospitals and health centers in all circumstances to avoid an increase in the number of victims after an event. This material, in French, includes a Guide, a training tool for using the guide, a questionnaire with a list of potential elements that can fail, and a short brochure with the key elements of the guide. The guide and accompanying materials have been designed specifically to aid in the construction of hospitals in Haiti, but the patterns shown may be of use to many countries and communities.