Emergency Preparedness for the Health Sector and Communities: Challenges and Way Forward
Expert Consultation: 15-17 February 2006, Geneva, Switzerland
Technical experts from around the world convened in Geneva from 15-17 February 2006 to explore approaches of better preparing countries and communities to deal with emergencies. The focus was on health, and the discussions centered around regional and country experiences in promoting and supporting emergency preparedness and mitigation, and identification of existing gaps and priorities for future action.
Participants reviewed and discussed lessons learnt from major crises in recent years, the outcomes of the Kobe Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, and the implementation of resolution WHA 58.1 at the 58th Session of the World Health Assembly .
Experts discussed and made recommendations on WHO's role in national and institutional preparedness/readiness as well as on support to member states for disaster risk reduction.
In recent years, WHO intensified its work in the area of Emergency Preparedness and Response, providing technical and other assistance to countries at risk of or experiencing crises. WHO's Department of Health Action in Crises (HAC) has recently been restructured into three main programmes: Emergency Preparedness & Capacity Building, Emergency Response Operations, and Recovery and Transition.
- Panel Discussion Papers and Presentations
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Concept note
pdf, 26kb -
Latest agenda
pdf, 36kb -
Information for participants
pdf, 35kb - Participants
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Issues, Conclusions, and Recommendations
pdf, 104kb - Related links
This Expert Consultation was the starting point for a revitalized Emergency Preparedness & Capacity Building Programme and it provided a set of concrete, strategic and programmatic recommendations for WHO to better support Member States to prepare for and build their capacities to manage disasters and emergencies.
This Expert Consultation is supported by funding partners of WHO's Emergency Preparedness & Capacity Building Programme for Health Action in Crises.