Hospitals Safe from Disasters
From HFA-PEDIA
The World Disaster Reduction Campaign 2008-2009: 'Hospitals Safe from Disasters' is a global campaign launched in Davos, Switzerland on 25 January, by the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) and the World Health Organization (WHO), with support from the World Bank.
Other ISDR system partners involved include UNDP, WMO, UNEP, UNESCO, UNICEF, FAO, ILO, WFP, IFRC and the various ISDR networks of NGOs, private sector, academic institutions, parliamentarians and local authorities. At the national level, the main responsibilities belong to the national platforms for disaster risk reduction (as the focal points for the Hyogo Framework for Action) and the Ministries of Health.
The campaign focuses on structural safety of hospitals and health facilities, on keeping health facilities functioning during and after disasters, and on making sure health workers are prepared for natural hazards striking.
Hospitals Safe from Disasters Campaign Website: http://www.safehospitals.info/
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Campaign Objectives
The World Disaster Reduction Campaign on Hospitals Safe from Disasters aims to raise awareness and effect change that will:
- Protect the lives of patients and health workers by ensuring the structural resilience of health facilities;
- Make sure health facilities and health services are able to function in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters, when they are most needed; and
- Improve the risk reduction capacity of health workers and institutions, including emergency management.
Related information and documents
Safe hospitals save lives during and after crises
World Health Organization (WHO); July 16, 2008
