Matamoros, Mexico, March 24, 2011 (PAHO/WHO) - Due to recent adverse events occurred in the Americas, as the floods in Central America, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil; as well as the earthquake in Haiti that collapsed the hospital system in Puerto Principe or the earthquake in Mexicali, Mexico, are just some examples that evoke up images of collapsed and evacuated hospitals due to damage to its infrastructure that seriously compromised functionality, disrupting patient care, preventing timely care to those affected by the calamity and endangering the safety of their workers. During a disaster situation, hospitals play a key role when the response articulators and the places where people seek care for immediate health needs.