PAHO Directing Council Passes Resolution Urging Safe Hospitals

The devastation caused by Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne was fresh on the minds of the Ministers of Health of the Americas when they met at PAHO’s 45th Directing Council Meeting in late September. The regional health authorities approved a resolution urging Member States to strengthen their own disaster preparedness and mitigation programs by allocating resources and garnering political support to ensure that the health sector remains operational when a disaster-affected population most needs it. The resolution also recommends that countries set the goal of building all new hospitals with a level of protection that guarantees their remaining functional in disaster situations and implementing mitigation measures to reinforce existing health facilities, particularly those providing primary care. The complete text of the resolution is available at www.paho.org/english/gov/cd/CD45.r8-e.pdf.

Next

Index