Paraguay Steps Up Disaster Training
In Paraguay, several national health institutions participated in two popular disaster courses—Evaluation of Damage and Needs (EDAN) and Hospital Disaster Planning (PHD). The EDAN course used a case study of a damage and needs assessment following floods in 2003 in Santa Fe, Argentina. Participants emphasized the importance of creating an operational situation room for quick decision making. Using the Previsión Social Hospital in Paraguay, site of the PHD course, as a model, participants helped to identify factors that put this facility at risk. They also prepared a hospital survey and a hospital disaster plan. |
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ECLAC Study to Include Damage
to Health Sector
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean is preparing an evaluation of the socioeconomic impact of Hurricane Stan, which lashed Guatemala with heavy rains in October 2005, causing devastating landslides. Guatemala’s Ministry of Health contributed a significant amount of data to the study, which looked at damage to health infrastructure and equipment and how the health sector responded, including the deployment of medical teams, epidemiological surveillance and vector control as well as the distribution of medicines. For more information, contact Patricia Gomez at pgomez@paho.org. |
The West Indies is gearing up to host the Cricket World Cup beginning next March 2007. Events will take place in eight venues in the Caribbean and are sure to draw huge crowds (the television audience is expected to reach 2 billion people!) In preparation for these mass gatherings, Member States are reviewing their hospital preparedness plans. PAHO is helping to organize simulation exercises and other training for emergency care and treatment, incident command systems and mass casualty management. Look for more information in upcoming issues of this newsletter.