The Health Imperative for Safer and Resilient Communities

Date & Time:
Wednesday 22 May (16:45-18:15)

Room:
Room 3

Participation:
Open

Organizer:
World Health Organization

Focal Point:
Mr. Jonathan Abrahams, WHO (abrahamsj@who.int )

Description



Good health status before, during and after emergencies and disasters is critical for the resilience of people and communities. In order to ensure health risks are minimized concerted efforts must occur across all sectors - to reduce loss of life, injuries, disease and disabilities, and promote better health outcomes for those at risk. Local action, safer hospitals and resilient health systems are necessary ingredients for safer, healthier communities and ensuring that health services remain fully operational in disaster situations with multi-sectoral support.

Session Objectives

To report on the development on Framework on Emergency and Disaster Risk Management for Health, based on an all-hazards, multi-sectoral risk management approach.

To report country health and multisectoral experiences of strengthening all-hazards emergency and disaster risk management for health, including integration of epidemic and pandemic preparedness, International Health Regulations and the Safer Hospitals.

To draw attention to emerging health risks and management strategies for disaster risk reduction, including disability, ageing, and non-communicable diseases.

To make recommendations for a greater focus on health in the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction and resilience and the post-2015 development agenda.

Discussion agenda and structure

The session will be designed to facilitate an interactive dialogue among delegates to the Global Platform and panelists from all sectors, including Ministries of Health, key stakeholder organizations in health and other sectors, and WHO. Speakers will share their experiences, plans and vision on emergency and disaster risk management for health. Their contributions will lead to an a moderated discussion, giving participants opportunities to discuss key issues and future directions for health emergency and disaster risk management as part of the global multi-sectoral approach.

1. Introduction and welcome by the Chair (5min)

2. Progress on the Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework (10min)

3. Addressing the needs of people with disabilities in disaster risk management, via launch of the Guidance Note on Disabilities and Emergencies for Health (by disability and health communities). This is closely linked with the preparations for the 2013 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (Oct 2013) and UN Panel on Disability (10min)

4. Case Study on Strengthening Health Emergency Risk Management in Oman.

In the past few years, the Ministry of Health has responded to the challenge of recent cyclones and the threat of communicable disease outbreaks by integrating IHR and emergency risk management into a common set of arrangements. This work has catalyzed action with the National Committee for Civil Defence resulting into the strengthening of the entire Omani disaster risk management system.

5. Success story on the integration of communicable diseases into the all hazards national disaster management arrangements in NZ (tbc) (10min)

6. Health in the Post-2015 Framework (Hyogo Framework for Action). (30min)

Discussion with Health and DRR communities to identify key issues for improving health outcomes in disaster risk reduction for the Informal Plenary dialogues on the Post-HFA Framework, and the Post-2015 development agenda.

7. Open to panel for questions. (20min)

8. Summary and closing by the Chair. (5min)


Relevance of the initiative

A key imperative for disaster risk reduction, is the health and safety of people who are at risk of disasters. Reducing health losses and improving health outcomes for communities at risk of disasters are among the main imperatives for disaster risk reduction alongside the sustainable development.

Health indicators are a measurement of disaster severity and the effectiveness of emergency and disaster risk management
The impact of disasters on individuals, families, communities and countries, and the progress that is made on disaster risk reduction, is often measured, at first, in terms of health: lives lost or saved, the number of people with injuries, illness from diseases, disability and psychosocial effects, and the total numbers of people affected in general. Health is vital to measurement of well-being, resilience and development.

Health as a bridge for DRR
Health, just like disaster risk reduction, is a shared responsibility. Health is linked to most aspects of disaster risk reduction, and many disaster risk reduction actions from the many sectors result in a health outcomes. Therefore, health serves as a bridge for disaster risk reduction. Countries and communities have shown that a focus on health can bring together sectors and agencies to focus on the common interest of people’s health.

Health at the core of social justice
Health connects disaster risk reduction to the well-being of people and communities. Health is central to social justice. Everyone has a right to health – people who are at risk of disasters, including those most at risk, should have access to support to take an active role in managing their own risks to their health, and have a role in actions taken by others to manage risks of disasters, including risk reduction and access to services before, during and after disasters. Health is core to life. We need good health to lead a full life, to work, rest and play, overcome poverty.

Health and DRR as insurance policies for sustainable development
Health is a key driver of community and national social and economic development. By managing risks to health, people are able to maintain their effective livelihoods and contributions to community development. Multisectoral emergency and disaster risk management protects investments in health, health infrastructure and services are protected from the risks of disasters, including the loss of hard-earned gains in health development.

Subject’s link to post 2015

Health is a central concern of all communities, especially those at risk of emergencies and disasters. Health is also fundamental to well-being, and a well person in a fit, resilient community is central to all objectives in development and disaster risk reduction. This is an issue for all sectors which contribute to health outcomes.

While communities supported by governments and their partners have ensured that there has been an overall reduction in loss of lives from natural hazards, the future of people’s health remains at stake, if future action does not put health at the centre of actions to manage future risks of emergencies and disasters.

Placing health prominently in the post-HFA framework and in the post-2015 development agenda will contribute toward improved health outcomes, not only in terms of saving lives but also reducing disability and improving the quality of life of the affected populations.

Health is being addressed across the post-2015 development agenda, including in consideration of a sustainable development goal for health and in the dialogues on disaster risk reduction and resilience.

Background documents (attachments coming soon)

Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework

Expected Outcomes

- Report on progress of the Framework on Emergency and Disaster Risk Management for Health
- Reports from health and other sectors on strengthening disaster risk management for health
- Launch of the Guidance Note on Disability and Emergencies
- Key priorities identified with specific recommendations for strengthening health in the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction and resilience and the post-2015 development agenda, including the role of the health sector in the preparatory processes.

Presentations

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