• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

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 Lyra, Paulo Photo: 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. PAHO/WHO Lyra, Paulo Photo: 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 Lyra, Paulo Photo: 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 opera- tions 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 Victor Photos: 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,

Load more

  12

Copy Link