Health Emergencies
Info Tools
Special Projects
March 2012 - Water and sanitation: critical elements in emergencies
On World Water Day we reflect on the need of having access to safe water in disasters
Water, a basic element for life, can be one of the major causes for concern after a disaster. The availability of water in sufficient quantity and quality is critical to provide health care, to ensure its use by the affected population, to maintain minimum standards of hygiene and to support the rescue work, among other activities. On World Water Day, PAHO/WHO calls for reflection on the importance and need of including in risk management plans and response plans actions to ensure access to quality drinking water, sanitation and hygiene during emergencies and disasters.
February 2012 - Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Disaster Situations in the Caribbean
This new publication takes an in-depth look at mental health and psychosocial issues in disaster situations, with a particular focus on the English-speaking Caribbean, and provides an overview of support mechanisms for dealing with the challenges that inevitably arise.
January 2010 - Health Response to the Earthquake in Haiti
French version and summaries in English, French and Spanish now available!
This book presents lessons to be learned from Haiti with the aim of improving the health sector's response in major, sudden-onset disasters in the future. It also identifies opportunities provided by the disaster for making significant changes in health services in Haiti. One of the key lessons of the Haiti tragedy is that coordination can only be effective where national authorities are equipped to assume leadership and establish relief and recovery priorities.