Health Sector Self-Assessment Tool for Disaster Risk Reduction

The Health Sector Self Assessment Tool for Disaster Risk Reduction is a rapid and low-cost method for assessing the state of disaster risk reduction in the health sector. As an internal tool for use by the health sector, it will aid in determining priorities for a national health sector risk reduction or disaster management program and, if used regularly, as a monitoring tool for measuring changes (or lack thereof) over time. The Tool was developed with the knowledge of professionals from health and disaster management fields.

Health Situation Update: Nine Months after the Earthquake in Haiti

The highlights of the new report prepared by PAHO/WHO are the prevention of major disease outbreaks; updates from the PAHO/WHO field offices in Leogane, Jacmel, and Port-de-Paix/Cap-Haitien; the establishment of a National Sentinel Surveillance System and an Internally Displaced Persons Surveillance System; hands-on training in the health sector; and the provision of free medicines and medical supplies through PROMESS.

Download the report

Disaster Reduction Themes Included at the 50th Directing Council

During her speech at the opening of PAHO/WHO's 50th Directing Council, Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO's Director General, mentioned two of the disaster reduction tools developed by PAHO/WHO, the Hospital Safety Index and the assessment tool for managing health services in ways that improve efficiency and cut costs. In addition, a Plan of Action on Safe Hospitals is one of the items of the meeting's agenda, that will be discussed on Thursday, September 30. In the link below you can see Dr. Chang's speech and the document of Safe Hospitals.

Heavy Rains and Landslides Affect Guatemala

Heavy rains during the week of 7 September 2010, in the Pacific coast of Guatemala, caused landslides and overflowing of rivers, due to soil saturation. According to reports, there were more than 40 deaths, 16 people went missing and more than 50,000 people were affected. A red alert was declared in the affected areas. There was no damage to health facilities, although the road infrastructure was affected.

PAHO/WHO Situation Report - 7 September 2010 (in Spanish)

Addressing Waste Management in Haiti

After the earthquake of 12 January in Haiti, waste management became an increasingly complex problem. Medical products left in trash piles increase the risk for transmission of diseases like HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis. In addition to the hazards posed by medical waste, PAHO/WHO environmental health experts recognized the urgent need to remove latrine excreta from internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. PAHO/WHO has been working with the Ministry of Health and other partners to establish a long-term solution to the health care waste disposal system in Haiti.