Return to Happiness: Psychoaffective Recovery of Children Affected by Disasters and Armed Conflict

This manual, produced by UNICEF Colombia, provides a methodology for the psychosocial recovery of boys and girls who are or have been the victim of displacement due to violence. This methodology is part of a UNICEF project called “The Return to Happiness,” and outlines ways to identify psychological problems, suggests recommendations on how to talk with children and provides guidelines for instructors and trainers to plan weekly activities and keep files to monitor each boy and girl’s recovery.

Request copies of this publication from Gladys Hauck at ghauck@unicef.org.

El Salvador Recovers — Health Sector Actions after Hurricane Mitch

El Salvador was one of the Central American countries affected by Hurricane Mitch and over the last four years, has undertaken a significant number and variety of activities to reduce the health sector’s vulnerability to disasters. This publication chronicles El Salvador’s journey in community preparedness, mental health, institutional strengthening, risk maps, safe hospitals and water supply systems and much more. This book includes lessons learned that can be applied to the management of any type of disaster. For copies of the publication (Spanish only) write to jjenkins@els.ops-oms.org. Download copies here.

Manual on Risk Management System for Chemical Emergencies

CETESB, Brazil’s Institute for Science and Technology for Environmental Health and a WHO Collaborating Center, has prepared organizational development guidelines, including the structure necessary to design strategies to prevent, prepare and respond to chemical emergencies. This guide, available in Spanish and Portuguese, is directed to public and private agencies and is the result of CETESB’s experience over a 25-year period in chemical emergencies and the development of contingency plans.

The manual is divided into three parts: section one provides the context for establishing a system, providing an overview of major chemical accidents worldwide that caused a serious environmental impact; part two discusses planning for the system, including an analysis of existing legislation and an analysis of public and private sector agencies involved in producing, storing, handling and disposing of chemicals; part three contains references and the annexes. Contact CETESB at edsonh@cetesb.sp.gov.br to order print copies of the manual or download a copy at www.cetesb.sp.gov.br/emergency/emergencia.asp.