Emergencies and disasters damage people, their property, and their environment in multiple ways. Whatever the impact, the priorities will be always to protect lives and the well-being of the affected communities and to reduce human suffering. The social, economic, and environmental cost of these events is enormous. Their impact can be felt for many years, particularly when health facilities stop functioning precisely when they are most needed.
Friday, 25 May 2012
Even a brief review of the adverse events of recent years should be enough to remind us that natural phenomena in our region have on many occasions left health care facilities non-functional, even when not badly damaged.
One of the major challenges after disasters is the rapid recovery of the lost health services. Chile faced this problem after the earthquake and tsunami of 27 February 2010. The hospitals of 
When a disaster occurs, children in schools and patients in hospitals are two of the most vulnerable groups. They run greater risks of losing their lives when these installations are not safe. In addition, an educational center that remains undamaged can serve as a shelter and/or a gathering place, while another installation can be identified to resume classes.
The negative impact of climate change on health includes worse sanitation conditions from limited water supplies and conditions that favor the spread of water and vector borne diseases like malaria, dengue and gastroenteritis, among others. But at the same time, health care facilities are one of the largest consumers of energy, with a large environmental footprint.
The probability of strong earthquakes in Mexico—particularly along the Guerrero Fault on the Pacific coast—is very high. Because of the accumulated energy in that region, one or more earthquakes of magnitude-8 or higher in the Richter scale are expected in the near future. The tremors that have shaken the country in recent weeks are an indication of the high seismic activity in this geographic area.
“Prevention is better than treatment” is more than a wise proverb. It is also at the center of the efforts of every health system that values the protection of the life and well-being of its population. It is also the challenge faced by disaster management systems, which aim at reducing risk to acceptable levels and thus contributing to sustainable development.Past Issues
