The Earthquake in Ecuador: Significant Damage to Editorial Health Facilities; Emergency Medical Teams Deployed WHO Emergency Reform

News and Information for the International Community

In the Spotlight 3 Smart Hospitals 4 Perspective 6 Member Countries 8 ISASTERS Information Resources 10 Upcoming Events 12 Preparedness and Mitigation in the Americas June 2016 Issue 121 Photo: Paulo Lyra, PAHO/WHO

Downtown commercial district in the city of Portoviejo, Ecuador.

The Earthquake in Ecuador: Significant damage to Editorial health facilities; emergency medical teams deployed WHO Emergency Reform

n 16 April 2016, one of Ecuador’s The region’s health infrastructure ver the years, epidemics and nat- Oworst disasters—a magnitude 7.8 also was dealt a serious blow, particularly Oural disasters have claimed a high earthquake—left 663 dead and nine miss- in 12 cantons in Manabí and Esmeraldas. number of lives and have had a major ing. As of mid-May, 7,633 families, or 28,775 Thirty-nine health facilities, which include impact on society. For countries affected people, remained in shelters. The earthquake health centers and basic and general hos- by these events and for international also affected many potable water systems. pitals and those providing specialized actors as well, the critical challenge In the first 72 hours, 6,274 persons received services, were damaged and 20 were unable lies in the difficulty of managing these medical attention. The earthquake affected to continue functioning. Despite the dam- large-scale events. The 2014 epidemic of six provinces along Ecuador’s Pacific coast: age to the health infrastructure, medical Ebola in West Africa, and its subsequent Esmeraldas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Guayas, care continued to be provided in mobile spread to several nations in Europe, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and Los Ríos. units, tents, or through services that were the United States, and other countries, However, the provinces of Manabí and the relocated to other facilities. caused global alarm and highlighted south of Esmeraldas were the most affected. (continued on page 3) >> (continued on page 2) >> WHO/L. Cipriani

(from page 1)

Editorial WHO Emergency Reform

the need to make substantive changes to the sive support to countries and communities The Pan American Health Organization and the WHO way the World Health Organization (WHO) as they prepare for, face, or recover from Emergency Reform carries out its alert and emergency response emergencies caused by any type of hazard to operations for outbreaks and disasters. To human health, whether disease outbreaks, In the context of the WHO Emer- this end, WHO, United Nations agencies, natural or man-made disasters or conflicts. gency Reform, PAHO will functionally and other international organizations, con- align its work with the new WHO Health ducted evaluations that reached the same Position of the Region of the Emergencies Program. It will also expand Americas conclusion: a new WHO Health Emergen- collaboration between PAHO and WHO cies Program was needed. In a joint statement, the delega- to identify a greater number of experts tions representing Latin American and ready and able to be mobilized to and A New WHO Health Emergencies Caribbean countries at the World Health from the Americas in emergency situa- Program Assembly expressed satisfaction with the tions and will share the financing of these On 25 May 2016, during the 69th progress made on this issue and their sup- response operations. meeting of the World Health Assembly, port for WHO’s new Health Emergencies PAHO will also continue to deploy its member countries approved one of the most Program. They also acknowledged that staff and the Regional Response Team (reg- important reforms since WHO was created since 1976, their WHO regional office for istered and trained by the Organization) in 1947, establishing the new Health Emer- the Americas (the Pan American Health to support the member states of both the gencies Program. This decision will generate Organization) has had a Department World Health Organization and the Pan substantial changes—both in terms of the of Emergency Preparedness and Disas- American Health Organization. Organization’s work and its culture—when ter Relief, a “proven mechanism that has The WHO Emergency Reform com- it comes to dealing with health emergencies. effectively responded to emergencies and plements PAHO’s vision, which seeks to It calls for establishing one single program, disasters in the region of the Americas, achieve a health sector that has sufficient with a workforce, budget, standards and pro- within the framework of WHO.” capacity, is led nationally, and sustained cesses, and clear lines of authority. These countries also noted that their to ensure that member states have the The new Health Emergencies Program support for the new WHO Health Emer- resilience to protect the physical, mental adds operational capacity to WHO’s work in gencies Program is “with the understanding and social wellbeing of their commu- outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies to that the PAHO program will continue to nities, and that they are able to rapidly complement its traditional technical and nor- fully respond to the needs of member states recover from the impact of health emer- mative roles. The new program is designed in the Americas, working and coordinating, gencies and disasters. to deliver rapid, predictable, and comprehen- as appropriate, with the WHO Program.”

2 June 2016 Issue 121 Editorial (from page 1) The Earthquake in Ecuador: Significant damage to health facilities; emergency medical teams deployed

Level 1* EMTs Level 2** EMTs Specialized Cells In the most affected areas (the cantons National International National International National International of 24 de Mayo, Bolívar, Chone, Flavio Alfaro, 20 1 3 2 6 2 Jama, Manta, Paján, Portoviejo, Puerto López, * Level 1: Outpatient initial emergency care of injuries and other significant health care needs. ** Level 2: Inpatient acute care, general and obstetric surgery for trauma and other major conditions. Rocafuerte, Sucre, Esmeraldas and Guayaquil’s metropolitan district ) the situation in health The Ministry of Public Health used the The Ministry of Public Health, the facilities is as follows: international standards for minimum require- Red Cross, universities, and national and ments and classification of Emergency Medical international NGOs immediately addressed Hospitals Teams, promoted by WHO/PAHO (read the mental healthcare needs. Action was taken guidelines at http://bit.ly/1SNgc5V) for the to control, prevent and address violence and coordination and deployment of national and behavioral disorders, and counseling was Damaged: 15 Unable to function: 6 international emergency medical teams. To provided for disaster victims who lost family execute this operation, an Emergency Medical members and property. A psychosocial sup- Health Centers Teams Information Cell (CICOM) was set up port strategy, oriented toward ‘caring for the in Quito’s ECU 911 Emergency Center, under caregivers,’ was developed. the responsibility of the International Coopera- The Pan American Health Organiza- tion Department of the Ministry of Health. The tion’s regional headquarters and the country Damaged: 24 Unable to function: 14 CICOM helped to organize the deployment office for Ecuador also mobilized staff to Twelve of the 15 hospitals in cantons of EMTs to the disaster-affected areas of the support the Ministry of Health’s earthquake located in the province of Manabí were country, optimize the work of health respond- response, especially in humanitarian coordi- damaged. ers, and improve the quality of information nation, damage assessment (particularly with regarding health coverage. Ecuador is the first regard to health infrastructure) and needs country in the Americas to put this coordina- analysis, coordination of emergency medi-

tion mechanism to the test. cal teams, and logistical supply management. Photo: Paulo Lyra, PAHO/WHO The Ministry of Health set up two PAHO/WHO also continues to work closely staging areas in Quito and Manta to regis- with national authorities on epidemiological ter and control the movement of medicines surveillance, restoration of health services, IESS Hospital in Manta. and medical supplies into and out of the immunizations, mental health, and commu- warehouses, using the LSS/SUMA system. nication and information management. Rapid Response Teams were activated, a health situation room was set up, and an epidemiological surveillance system was put in place in shelters and temporary camps. Photo: Paulo Lyra, PAHO/WHO Integrated Healthcare and Primary Health- Photo: Paulo Lyra, PAHO/WHO Lyra, Paulo Photo: care teams were also deployed to the most Dr. Gina Tambini, PAHO/WHO Representative in affected areas. Potable water was distributed Ecuador and Jerónimo Venegas, chief of operations of the LSS/SUMA system, review contents Interior of the Bahia de Caraquez hospital in the in shelters using tanker trucks, mobile water of the warehouse at the Ministry of Public Health province of Manabí, Ecuador. treatment plants and bottled water. Staging Center in the city of Manta.

In the Spotlight June 2016 Issue 121 3

Photos: Victor Ariscain PAHO/WHO

Caribbean Health Facilities Take the Next Step: Smart Hospitals Hospitals that are not only disaster resilient but also climate-friendly are Smart Hospitals

uilding on PAHO’s Safe Hospitals Ini- to conserve resources, cut costs, increase • A methodology for a cost/benefit Btiative, national stakeholders in the efficiency in operations, and reduce carbon analysis, to help decision makers make Caribbean are rallying around a new initia- emissions. This Toolkit is comprised of: informed decisions about whether or not tive to make hospitals ‘smart,’ shifting away »» Hospital Safety Index, which many (or to what degree) to invest in measures from a traditional disaster response model countries are currently using to help to make their health facilities ‘smart.’ to one that proactively incorporates climate ensure that new or existing health • A model policy. While there is broad adaptation, mitigation measures, and pre- facilities are disaster-resilient. support for the principles of smart health paredness to reduce the impact of disasters »» A Smart Hospital Baseline Assess- facilities, there are very few actual pol- on health. At the same time, the health sec- ment Tool (BAT) to collect reliable icies at the national level that call for a tor, one of the heaviest consumers of energy, and detailed information on a health shift away from a traditional disaster is striving to reduce its environmental foot- facility’s age; physical condition; quality response model to one that proactively print. Healthcare facilities are ‘smart’ when of construction; structural, non-struc- seeks to minimize the health impact they link their structural and operational tural and mechanical integrity; and of a disaster through climate adapta- safety with green interventions, at a reason- compliance with current building, tion, mitigation and preparedness. This able cost-to-benefit ratio. fire and electrical codes; the building’s model policy aims to guide the health Under the umbrella of the UKAid/ performance and operations and how sector in developing its own policy on DFID-funded Smart Hospitals Initiative, it measures up against current code, smart health facilities, a policy that forms PAHO developed several instruments to regulatory requirements and zoning an integral part of the health agenda of guide countries as they prepare to tackle regulations. These are important factors PAHO’s Member States; is backed by ear- the challenge of making their hospitals not to consider in the audit of any facility. marked resources in the national budget; only safe but also environmentally friendly. »» A Green Checklist, adapted from and counts on committed leadership at • A Smart Hospitals Toolkit has been existing green building rating systems the highest level of government. developed for hospital administrators, to the Caribbean context, which cov- • A model annex to accompany national health disaster coordinators, health facility ers both the building itself and the building standards and codes that designers, engineers and maintenance staff facility’s operations. focuses on sustainable construction of

4 June 2016 Issue 121 Smart Hospitals

Photo: PAHO/WHO Photo: Victor Ariscain PAHO/WHO

- June 2016 Issue 121 June 2016 - - Hospi Georgetown The Interventions the applied to The Pogson Medical Centre Medical Centre Pogson The safe how project demonstrates Medical Centre the Pogson all, Above An unexpected benefit of the project in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Grenadines Vincent unexpectedAn St. benefit of the project in Improved ventilation, acces ventilation, Improved disposal, waste sibility, and cooling, heating lighting, the at morale and sanitation, medical facility. efficiencywater Improved in better provide can be used to money that saving consumption, and energy health services the community. to and with the strictest complies standards that safety roof A retrofitted 150 mph. against winds of up to - and a photovol (generator emergency supply system energy A complete taic (PV) system). impactA positive on health- and recovery) (patient care staff motivation. (PV) sources energy in the use of renewable increase An and a 60% reduc tion in energy consumption. tion in energy costs. on recurring Savings extreme to and resilience and building codes with standards Compliance events. climatic measures. security safety and fire Improved

(environmentally-friendly) components can components (environmentally-friendly) risk) and green disaster (reduced a Smart create health facility. to be combined and the Grenadines Vincent St. Hospital Georgetown tal is a 12-bed facility serving a St. in 9,800 about of population Grenadines. and the Vincent improve Hospital to Georgetown - its envi its resiliency and reduce in: resulted footprint ronmental • Two Caribbean Health Facilities Facilities Health Caribbean Two Get Smart! and Nevis Kitts St. Medical Centre Pogson is a 25-bed facility serving 3,125 The Kittspeople in St. Nevis. and results: • • • • • • • • of of the community and local businesses in the form the involvement was - and the Gren Vincent St. cost storm In 2013, a severe labor and donations. hospital—the US$ 2.1 million and leftadines an estimated its only referral function. of the 39 district Hospital—unable to Many Milton health clin- Cato remained 100% Hospital Georgetown ‘smartened’ while the flooded, ics were functional during and after the event. - For more in-depth information and to download download to and information in-depth more For - Organiza Health American 2015 the Pan May In new health facilities. It considers two main issues: issues: main two considers new It health facilities. infrastructure to and the structure of a) adaptation - b) mitigat and phenomena, change-related climate informed through change climate of the effects ing construction. design and Smart Hospitals vation procedures are established and utilized.” Special utilized.” and established are procedures vation and knowledge of will also transfer be to paid attention in the targeted awareness public and capacity increase to training and relations public intensive an with countries in place. already strategy Smart the PAHO visit material, other and thesetools . http://goo.gl/DMTEHZ at: website Hospitals tion received approval from UKAid/DFID in the amount in the amount UKAid/DFID from approval received tion in healtheach facilities several retrofit to million £8.3 of and the Grenadines, and Vincent St. Lucia, St. Grenada, its and thisproject of the importance Given Dominica. risk disaster linking for platform a establish to ability the 2015 September in change, climate and reduction fund- additional the UK announced of Minister Prime and Belize, Guyana include to the project extend to ing countries. target in existing support increase and Jamaica Simone Advisor, Environmental and Climate UKAid The will the funding be utilized: “It how explained Banister, inhealth 50 facilities of total a 2020, expected is by that than more and greener, willthese and be countries safer for 600 will documented be the assessed, findings with bulk The database. online in an improvements future to work the will UK funds of refurbishment be used for the seven Caribbean across facilities health that ensure - natu multiple withstand to able better are countries will This include variability. climate and ral disasters hurricane installing structures, and roofs strengthening fire and access drainage, storm improving and shutters devices, conservation energy water installing and safety, that ensure to will be support provided Technical etc. are equipment and plans response disaster appropriate conser and maintenance and facility each for in place Photo: PAHO/WHO

Emergency Medical Teams (EMT): Standards and Minimum Requirements Strengthening classification and coordination mechanisms for emergency medical teams in disaster response

ollowing the January 2010 earthquake populations and also support local health • Streamlining immigration, customs Fin Haiti, a large number of medical systems. They work under global guidelines and logistics procedures to facilitate the teams arrived on site and lives were saved. that define the minimum standards and deployment of EMTs. Despite this laudable humanitarian response, requirements for the teams. Consult these • Supporting national and regional work- too many medical teams arrived unprepared. guidelines at http://bit.ly/1SNgc5V. shops for EMT coordination. In December of that year, PAHO/WHO con- In the Americas, a Plan of Action for Most recently, in December 2015, vened an expert meeting in Cuba to identify the Coordination of Humanitarian Assis- 150 participants from governments the minimum requirements and streamline tance (click on http://bit.ly/1rr26aL and (more than 30 Member States); civil soci- the application process, acceptance and scroll down to document CD53/12 in the ety and the private sector (over 40 teams); coordination of international medical teams section on Working Documents) guides the and international organizations met for in order to improve efficiency and speed up countries’ work in this important area: a global meeting in Panama to discuss a their deployment. Read the full report at: • Preparing procedures for requesting, number of issues relating to the current http://bit.ly/25FbLQN. accepting and receiving EMTs. implementation and ongoing development That meeting set the groundwork for the • Coordinating the integration of EMTs of the EMT initiative. Read the report of global initiative now known as ‘Emergency into health EOCs. this meeting at: http://bit.ly/1SVHXJG. Medical Teams.’ These teams are com- • Maintaining a regional roster of EMT coor- Follow the latest news on EMTs on Twit- posed of health professionals (medical staff, dinators, forming national-level EMTs, and ter, at #EMTAMERICAS and on the web nurses, physiotherapists, paramedics, etc.) developing mechanisms to register both at www.paho.org/disasters/emt. that provide direct care to disaster-affected national and international teams.

6 June 2016 Issue 121 Perspective Engaging Indigenous Peoples in Disaster Risk Reduction

n September 2014, PAHO and the Pacific Northwest Border • Familiarize population with emergency and disaster Preparedness prevention, preparedness and response. Health Alliance (a cross-border and cross-jurisdictional public • Prepare a matrix of natural hazards in the region. I and Response • Prepare community risk maps. health preparedness and response network in the Pacific North- Training • Develop preparedness and response plans based on community vulnerability. west of the U.S. and Canada) convened a Hemispheric Consultation on Engaging Indigenous Peoples in Disaster Risk Reduction. The • Record audio messages on disaster preparedness region-wide dialogue yielded consensus on a number of strategies and response in indigenous languages. Risk • Translate public information messages into indige- for moving this initiative forward, including: participation and Communication nous languages. • Develop teaching materials for children to sensitize partnerships; education and raising awareness; legislation; disaster them to disaster preparedness and prevention. risk reduction and preparedness plans; and the use of traditional knowledge. The participants (from 11 countries in the Americas) in the northeast Sierra Madre region of the state of Puebla, Mexico, endorsed recommendations for action for national authorities, to complete questionnaires and share experiences related to hazards indigenous populations and the international community, which in the region. This led to the development of a disaster risk manage- have been compiled into the report “Recommendations for Engag- ment plan, with a focus on flash floods and landslides. The project ing Indigenous Peoples in Disaster Risk Reduction.” Read the has two principal components: complete report and recommendations at: http://bit.ly/1qRczzf. • Development of community preparedness and emergency Following the meeting, one of the participants, Cecilio Solís, response plans to: Director of the Indigenous Federation of Corporations and Local »» Address basic concepts of disaster preparedness and risk Communities, met with with 30 leaders of indigenous communities reduction. »» Raise awareness among leaders of the importance of community organization for sudden-onset floods and landslides. »» Develop a matrix of phenomena and hazards affecting their community. »» Develop community risk maps. • Risk Communication: Radio messages on disaster prevention were recorded, addressing hydrometeorological (floods, flash floods, cyclones) and geological (landslides) phenomena, in seven indigenous languages: Nahuatl, Totonac, Tarahumara – Mayan, Tzeltal, Tlapanec, and Mazateco. Cartoon booklets were also prepared to educate children on the issue of unstable slopes and potential landslides. In addition to training and empowering community leaders to play a key role in emergency preparedness and response, the workshop also strengthened ties between the local populations and national and international agencies such as Mexico’s National Disaster Prevention Center (CENAPRED), Civil Protection of the State of Puebla, the National Emergency Medical System, and UNDP’s Risk Reduction Program in Mexico.

Perspective June 2016 Issue 121 7

Peru Updates its National Policy on Safe Hospitals

eru’s Ministry of Health, working implemented to improve safety conditions, update design standards in primary care Pwith EsSalud, the Health Social Secu- primarily in non-structural components and facilities, hospitals and other health facilities rity Service; the Health Department of the in the hospital’s functionality. Vulnerability to meet safe hospitals criteria; incorporate Armed Forces and Police; and the private assessments were conducted in 14 Ministry non-structural safety measures; and in the sector, updated the nation’s Safe Hospitals of Health hospitals in metropolitan Lima and use of base isolation and seismic trigger sys- Policy to cover a five-year period, through six EsSalud facilities nationwide. EsSalud is tems, as part of the National Building Code. 2021. The update of this strategic document preparing pre-investment studies to replace The updated Safe Hospitals Policy is followed a thorough review of the progress five of these hospitals, which the Hospital pending approval at the national level. In achieved during the previous five-year Plan Safety Index rated as category C: a health the interim, work will continue to reduce of Action (2010-2015) at national meetings facility where the lives and safety of occu- disaster risk in health facilities and ensure with health service providers. pants are deemed at risk during disasters. their operational continuity at maximum Peru has used the Hospital Safety Index Similar progress was made in develop- capacity, in the same facility, during and to evaluate 90% of the hospitals belonging to ing the capacity of 730 health professionals after disasters. For more information con- the Ministry of Health and EsSalud. Based from the Ministry of Health and 91 from tact Dr. Celso Banbaren, PAHO/WHO at on these assessments, measures have been EsSalud to apply the Hospital Safety Index; [email protected].

Ecuador: Pilot Project on Incident Command Systems in Hospitals

he Ministry of Public Health of Ecua- the coastal region of Ecuador. Tdor, with support from PAHO/WHO, A six-month action plan was developed has trained a cadre of instructors to initiate in these three hospitals. Activities include: a pilot Incident Command System in three • Conducting an Incident Command Sys-

health facilities. The Hospital Incident Photo: PAHO/WHO tem course for all hospital EOC staff. Command System is a tool for the opti- • Developing protocols and incident mal organization of all available resources, action plans. under one common system and plan of Ministry of Public Health, “this system oper- • Selecting triage sites and identifying action. PAHO/WHO and technical staff in ationalizes hospital emergency plans and staging areas. Ecuador adapted this methodology to Latin promotes a coordinated response by hospital • Establishing emergency response teams. American countries and validated it in hos- staff.” Subsequently, an Incident Command • Allocating administrative, financial and pitals in Peru, Costa Rica, Colombia and System was set up in three hospitals: in the support functions. other countries in the Region. Latacunga provincial hospital in the area • Testing the plan through simulation The pilot projects began in Ecuador surrounding the Cotopaxi volcano; in the exercises and drills. in late 2015 with the training of 38 poten- Ambato General Hospital, which responds The accumulated experience gained will tial instructors from 29 public and private to health situations caused by the Tungura- be applied to pilot projects in an expanded hospitals located in the country’s nine hua volcano; and the Abel Gilbert Ponton number of hospitals in Ecuador. For more administrative divisions. For Santiago Tara- Hospital in Guayaquil, a referral hospital that information, contact Dr. Roddy Camino, pues, Disaster Management Advisor at the may deal with a range of adverse events in PAHO/WHO, [email protected].

8 June 2016 Issue 121 Member Countries Bolivia Establishes Country Humanitarian Team

olivia is the tenth country in the Amer- respond to any emergency, where every- resources (human, material and logistical); Bicas to form a Humanitarian Country one contributes his or her own abilities, preparing terms of reference for the Sectoral Team (HCT). The HCT is a mechanism to knowledge and experience,” stated Mau- Platform; and coordinating the inter-in- consolidate channels of communication; ricio Ramirez, U.N. Resident Coordinator stitutional response to the Zika virus. For improve working relationships among diverse in Bolivia. Added Oscar Cabrera, Deputy more information, contact: Fabiola Michel, actors; and improve the management and Minister of Civil Defense, “The HCT rep- PAHO/WHO, [email protected]. analysis of information, including report- resents the support the State requires to fill ing and distribution. Although the primary the gaps that the government cannot cover, responsibility for coordinating humanitar- when so required.” ian assistance rests with national authorities, With the formation of a Humanitar- if international humanitarian assistance is ian Country Team, PAHO/WHO and the Photo: PAHO/WHO required, a U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator Bolivian Red Cross reactivated the country’s will coordinate the efforts of humanitarian Thematic Health Group—the technical arm organizations (both U.N. and non-U.N.). of the HCT for emergency health matters. The March 2016 signing of an MOU for Bolivia’s HCT by the Deputy Minister of Civil Defense “The HCT enjoys high confidence for Key functions of the health group include: (left), the U.N. Resident Representative (right). its ability to support the government to consolidating information on institutional

Brazil: Unified Health System Strengthens Emergency and Disaster Management

ith a view to enhancing the plan- guide the work of the Ministry of Health using technical information from the Min- Wning process and strategies to with the different levels of SUS manage- istry of Health; the United Nations Office strengthen the Unified Health System’s ment and other stakeholders. This provides for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR); (SUS) emergency and disaster response, appropriate and timely support to the States the Office for the Coordination of Human- the Department of Environmental Health and Municipal Secretaries of Health in itarian Affairs (OCHA), the Red Cross and Surveillance and Occupational Health disaster preparedness and response. PAHO/WHO. of Brazil’s Ministry of Health has devel- To achieve this goal the Ministry of Phase two of the project is underway oped national plans and strengthened Health and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation and pilot interventions are being carried hazard-specific contingency plans for initiated a project called “Multi-Risk.” The out in seven states and 15 municipalities to floods, drought and emergencies caused first step was to conduct a diagnosis of the develop multi-hazard emergency plans that by chemical, biological, radiological and disaster preparedness and response capac- take into account the unique characteris- nuclear agents. ity of Brazil’s 26 states and their capitals tics of each state. The results will be used The International Health Regulations and the Federal District. Data was col- to develop a guide for drafting emergency (IHR) and the incorporation of the prior- lected from state health departments and preparedness and response plans to reduce ities and goals set in the Sendai Framework civil protection staff. The questionnaire, public health risks in disaster situations that for Disaster Risk Reduction, with particu- completed through interviews, included 44 will include disease surveillance, health lar emphasis on a multi-hazard approach, indicators and 46 sub-indicators, defined promotion and health care.

Member Countries June 2016 Issue 121 9

DIMRC: Improving Access to Disaster Health Information

This is the first of a series of articles about the many resources that the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC) makes available to the disaster community. This first article provides an overview of the Center.

he United States National Library of • Training and support TMedicine (NLM), the world’s largest for librarians to act as biomedical library, has a long history of Disaster Information providing health information, training, and Specialists in meet- tools in response to all types of disasters and ing their communities’ public health emergencies. NLM promotes needs. This includes First responders and crisis managers use DIMRC information management and access to developing core compe- information resources. health information resources as key com- tencies, curriculum, and ponents of disaster medicine and public certification (administered by an associ- DIMRC also coordinates outreach and health. The establishment of the Disaster ation or university). training on the use of NLM resources by Information Management Research Center • Development, promotion, and train- disaster personnel and assists and collaborates (DIMRC) in 2008 reflects NLM’s commit- ing of disaster and emergency health with the international disaster information ment to this national and international resources (online and mobile) for health community. Other activities include: priority. The core purpose of DIMRC is professionals and the public. • Publishing results from its own research to develop and provide access to health • Disaster-related informatics research and and development activities. information resources and technology for development projects both at NLM and • Promoting NLM partnerships with hospi- disaster preparedness, response, and recov- through grants to other institutions. tals and libraries as collaboration models ery. The Center’s intent is to connect people • Development of innovative communi- to enhance community disaster resilience. to quality disaster health information and cations, training and other technologies • Promoting and supporting the devel- foster a culture of community resiliency. and methodologies to support disaster opment of an international network DIMRC has made significant strides in the preparedness and response. of disaster information centers in the collection and dissemination of disaster • Collaboration with other government Americas and the Caribbean (REL- health information, making it more readily agencies involved in disaster health and ACIGER – www.relaciger.org) available to first responders, crisis manag- medicine to ensure information needs NLM and PAHO have collaborated ers, health professionals, and the public. receive adequate attention in planning for many years in a variety of international DIMRC coordinates all of NLM disas- for disasters and in providing education projects, including the development of the ter-related activities, including: and training for responders. RELACIGER network, enhancing the access • The collection, organization, and dis- • Planning and training for continuity of to biomedical literature from the Pan Amer- semination of health information for all operations of libraries, including eight ican region, and more. For more information stages of preparedness, response, and Regional Medical Libraries, and the about DIMRC, please visit their website at recovery to natural, accidental, or delib- 5,800 member-libraries of its National http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov or contact erate disasters. Network of Libraries of Medicine. Stacey Arneson at [email protected].

10 June 2016 Issue 121 Information Resources Publications and Information Resources All DIMRC information resources are available via the website http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov

Some of the NLM/DIMRC resources for disaster and emergency personnel include: • Hazardous Materials Tools: (Haz-Mat) and Chemical, Biologi- cal, Radiologic, and Nuclear (CBRN) »» WISER, the Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (http://wiser.nlm.nih.gov) also available as a mobile application for Android and iOS). »» REMM, the Radiation Event Medical Management System (http://remm.nlm.gov), also available as a mobile app. »» CHEMM, Chemical Hazard Emergency Medical Management (http://chemm.nlm.nih.gov), now included in the WISER app. • Subject Guides »» Disaster Health series with numerous resources on disaster topics and specific incidents for health professionals, such as up-to-date resources about the Zika virus and Ebola (https:// disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/disasters.html). »» MedlinePlus, with nearly 40 subject pages on all-hazards topics for the public, in English and Spanish (http://medlineplus.gov). • Disaster Medicine and Public Health Literature »» PubMed, with more than 40,000 biomedical journal articles »» Disaster Lit: The resource guide for disaster medicine and pub- on disaster topics from 5,000 journals, including more than lic health, with links to over 10,000 online publications, including 20 journals exclusively on disaster and emergency medicine guidelines, reports, websites, fact sheets, and training materials. (http://pubmed.gov). More than 100 resources from the Pan American Health Organi- »» The NLM catalog with well over 1,000 publications on disaster zation are available in Disaster Lit. (http://disasterlit.nlm.nih.gov). topics related to medicine.

In Memory of Julie Leonard

PAHO/WHO, together with many in the international disaster community, was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Julie Leonard, our USAID/OFDA colleague of more than 15 years. Many

of us had worked closely with Julie as a partner and a strong supporter of humanitarian efforts in USAID/OFDA Photo Archive this Region—during the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, following Hurricane Ivan in Gre- nada, and in so many other difficult situations. Julie’s legacy will be her generosity of spirit and ability to make a difference to so many people. We were privileged to have known her, worked side Julie Leonard and women in Burkina Faso, during her TDY to by side with her, and shared her commitment to improving the lives of those affected by disasters. Africa in 2012.

Information Resources June 2016 Issue 121 11

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ISASTERS Preparedness and Mitigation in the Americas

Disasters: Preparedness and Mitigation in the Americas is the Newsletter of the Department of Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief of the Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. The reported events, activities and programs do not imply endorsement by PAHO/WHO, nor do the statements made necessarily represent the policy of the Organization. The publication of this Newsletter has been made possible through the financial support of the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the U.S. Agency for International Development (OFDA/AID).

Correspondence and inquiries should be addressed to:

Disasters: Preparedness and Mitigation in the Americas Pan American Health Organization 202-974-3527 • Fax: 202-775-4578 www.facebook.com/PAHOdisasters 525 Twenty-third Street, N.W. @ [email protected] www.twitter.com/PAHOdisasters Washington, D.C. 20037, U.S.A.

www.paho.org/disasters

The symposium will cover a wide variety of emergency medicine topics of interest to to interest of topics medicine emergency of variety wide a cover will symposium The

http://urgenciauc.cl/Concepts opment.

1-3 September 2016, Santiago, Chile. University of Chile. of University Chile. Santiago, 2016, September 1-3 - devel urban sustainable and housing on conference Nations United a is III Habitat

https://www.habitat3.org/ CONCEPTOS in Emergency Medicine 2016 (CONCEPTOS 2016) (CONCEPTOS 2016 Medicine Emergency in CONCEPTOS

17-20 October 2016, Quito, Ecuador. Quito, 2016, October 17-20

Habitat III Habitat

development; climate change adaptation; and more. and adaptation; change climate development;

themes such as resilience; urban and underlying risks; mega catastrophes; sustainable sustainable catastrophes; mega risks; underlying and urban resilience; as such themes

IDRC Davos 2016 contributes to the post-Sendai process and will cover cross-cutting cross-cutting cover will and process post-Sendai the to contributes 2016 Davos IDRC disaster resilience across the globe. the across resilience disaster

http://idrc.info researchers, educators and industry practitioners involved in natural hazards and and hazards natural in involved practitioners industry and educators researchers,

August 28-1 September 2016, Davos, Switzerland. International Disaster Research Centre. Research Disaster International Switzerland. Davos, 2016, September 28-1 August The annual international Building Resilience Conference series brings together together brings series Conference Resilience Building international annual The

http://buildresilience2016.nz 6th International Disaster and Risk Conference Davos 2016 Davos Conference Risk and Disaster International 6th

7-9 September 2016, Auckland, New Zealand. University of Auckland, Massey University. Massey Auckland, of University Zealand. New Auckland, 2016, September 7-9

Unexpected

ment, and more. more. and ment,

6th International Conference on Building Resilience 2016: Building Resilience to Address the the Address to Resilience Building 2016: Resilience Building on Conference International 6th

- manage resource progress, monitoring and measuring city, resilient the financing

This year’s program focuses on inclusive resilience strategies and adaptation planning, planning, adaptation and strategies resilience inclusive on focuses program year’s This

http://resilientcities2016.iclei.org vector-borne diseases to severe infections in HIV patients. HIV in infections severe to diseases vector-borne

6-8 July 2016, Bonn, Germany. Local Governments for Sustainability. for Governments Local Germany. Bonn, 2016, July 6-8 severe trauma in children; on the public health side, topics ranging from emerging emerging from ranging topics side, health public the on children; in trauma severe

the medical community. On the clinical side, issues ranging for poisoning to sepsis to to sepsis to poisoning for ranging issues side, clinical the On community. medical the Resilient Cities 2016: 7th Global Forum on Urban Resilience and Adaptation, Adaptation, and Resilience Urban on Forum Global 7th 2016: Cities Resilient

Events Upcoming