Following one of the most challenging and dramatic years for Latin America and the Caribbean in the area of disaster response and public health, 2011 appeared with a sigh of relief, allowing time to reinforce essential, ongoing recovery and response actions as well as look towards the future of disaster management in the Region. Member States were not free from emergencies – cholera continued to spread, Hurricane Irene struck the Caribbean and Tropical Depression 12-E flooded Central America – but much progress was made in the area of preparedness, risk reduction and readiness and response.
In April 2011, PAHO organized a technical consultation with experts throughout the Region to assess progress in disaster management, identify challenges and make recommendations to assist national and international institutions to orient future work. The group highlighted important areas to improve national and regional capacity in disaster response and risk reduction, and the conclusions served as the basis for discussion with ministries of health in Latin America and the Caribbean later in the year.
In order to continue strengthening the leadership of the health sector in disaster management and build on the many advances from the past 30 years, countries must be able to:
• Adapt to the ever changing and demanding global context, with limited human and financial resources.
• Face both traditional and non-traditional risks that impact health in the Americas and take into account the concept of human security.
• Understand the health implications of pandemics, mass outbreaks, social violence and other health crises including radio-nuclear and chemical threats and the potential impact of climate change.
• Realize the ability of small emergencies to catch national and international attention and the rapid spread of information via the media, social networks and the Internet.
Following the April technical advisory meeting, the Health Disaster Coordinators from the Ministries of Health met with PAHO/WHO disaster focal points in October to define new goals and develop a road map for future steps in disaster management. With these challenges in mind, participants emphasized priority areas for future action. This report outlines the Pan American Health Organizations Disaster Program’s (PED) major activities, achievements and lessons learned in disaster management in 2011 as well as the conclusions from this critical Regional meeting – the basis for PAHO’s collaboration in disaster preparedness, risk reduction and response for the coming years.