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The World Heath Organization's Disaster Reduction Policies in Africa at the Dawn of 1990's: Steps in the Right Direction?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Maniza S. Zaman  and
Sandro Calvani
Maniza S. Zaman
Affiliation:
Consultant, WHO Panafrican Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Sandro Calvani
Affiliation:
Director of Coordination, Promotion, and Information, WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo
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Abstract

The World Health Organization, Panafrican Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response (WHO/EPR) was established in 1988, and officially opened in March 1989, as a practical and functional response to the identified need for a regional institution to deal effectively with the health and related consequences of both natural and man-made disasters. The principal objective of the Centre is to aid member countries in the prevention and/or reduction of the adverse health effects of disasters, be they direct or indirect, by strengthening national capacities for disaster preparedness and response. The WHO has reoriented its disaster operations unit to incorporate preparedness activities, particularly within an overall developmental framework which is crucial for reducing losses, both human and material, in the event of a disaster. In keeping with this focus, the Centre has defined its goals and activities: development of national disaster preparedness programs; training of national and international personnel in health emergency preparedness and response; production and dissemination of technical publications on disaster preparedness and management; undertaking risk assessment missions; and executing relevant research projects.

Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , June 1991 , pp. 271 - 278
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1991

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