Articles

The process of mobilizing for emergencies and disasters requires consensus-building among all actors so that activities are designed not only provide immediate aid, but also an assessment of the magnitude of damage and needs for humanitarian assistance.

The diagram below indicates the actions that contribute to a successful mobilization.

Integration with national multisectoral mechanisms

In the Americas, all countries have a national risk management and disaster response system of a multisectoral nature, with a central coordinating central agency whose name varies from country to country: Civil Protection or Defense Agency, National Emergency Bureau or Commission, National Disaster Agency or Department, etc. These systems and agencies work jointly with all sectors and institutions, including the ministry of health and the entities within it.

It is important for the health sector to be well acquainted with these intersectoral bodies. The sector’s participation and coordination in processes related to risk management, preparedness, and response will not only benefit the work of the ministry of health, but the entire range of institutions responsible for emergency and disaster work.

The purpose of a damage assessment and needs analysis (DANA) process is to describe, as quickly and objectively as possible, the health impact of an adverse event, while considering the response capacity of the sector and ascertaining what additional resources are required to address immediate and future effects.

The DANA supports decision-making and thus save lives and limits the health consequences and socioeconomic losses.

The health authority is responsible for assessing, reporting, and coordinating interventions to protect and recovery of the population’s health.

The weaknesses encountered through the damage assessment and needs analysis are grouped in order of importance according to the magnitude of their repercussions on health. Subsequently, potential solutions are analyzed. Major problems that are easy to solve with available resources will receive priority for action, while smaller problems that are not likely to have a major impact or are unlikely to be resolved quickly will receive lower priority. Meanwhile, priority will be given to the mobilization of resources for problems that could lead to serious consequences, but are difficult or unlikely to solve with available resources—in other words, plans will be prepared and external resources sought.