Peru Revisits Multisector Emergency Plan

Peru’s Ministry of Health organized a meeting of the nation’s epidemiology, disaster and environmental health networks to assess the country’s capacity to respond to epidemics, natural disasters and other health emergencies. Participants from the Ministry in Lima and 35 regional offices were joined by other national agencies and PAHO/WHO. They analyzed the current situation in the health sector and identified priority areas to improve coordination, and internal and external capacity. These will be included in a joint action plan. For more information, contact Dr. Luis Suárez at lsuarez@oge.sld.pe

Disaster Communications Workshop Issues Recommendation

Health workers and social communicators met with journalists in Bolivia during a workshop on how to establish a two-way dialogue, improve collaboration and become more effective in how we generate information in emergency and disaster situations. Among the recommendations: when setting up an emergency operations center, include a communications and information desk; strive to provide the most up-to-date, reliable and official information possible; avoid sensationalism; develop and/or improve good working relationships between the press and international organizations in “normal” times; and create national commissions with representatives of the press and communicators from key disaster agencies. For more information contact marodrig@paho.org