Frequently Asked Questions
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1. Why a new Knowledge Center?
In the last few years the availability of sources and information resources has increased. Websites, databases and information generated at the national and international level have multiplied.
In this context, it becomes necessary to review, classify and systematize the technical information in a new Knowledge Center that is organized as a manual or thematic guide that contains all the essential concepts of public health and disasters, both concepts that have stood the test of time, as new concepts and recommendations to address the new challenges.
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2. Objectives of the Knowledge Center
- Provide an access more efficient, faster and easier to the essential subjects and resources on public health and disasters produced by PAHO/WHO and other institutions.
- Guide the work of the Ministries of Health in risk management, through a content outline with a comprehensive perspective and all the concepts and essential resources on public health and disasters.
- Increase the use of all the technical material available, with a more uniform pattern of different sources and guidelines that exist in different websites.
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3. What does the Knowledge Center offer on health and disasters?
From the point of view of content:
- A representation of the essential topics and concepts on public health and disasters updated, taking into account new technical and/or political issues.
- Each topic has a basic technical description, which is accompanied by a set of information sources and material produced by PAHO/WHO or other organizations.
- This scheme is used to describe the role of the health sector in reducing the impact of disasters, with a holistic view of risk management. Therefore aspects of planning, preparedness, response and vulnerability reduction are included.
- A rigorous selection of content, which must pass a technical filter to decide whether or not they qualify to join this website.
From the point of view of the structure and organization:
- Access to other information sources and material selected on emergencies and disasters with these conditions: meet the technical selection criteria, have the necessary quality, are available electronically and can be shared without restriction.
- An access to these sources of information which allows queries to basic content or deeper analysis and specialized information sources.
From the point of view of design:
- A simple and friendly navigation system.
- A search system fast, easy and efficient.
- A modern platform capable of incorporating and organizing different types of electronic information resources, facilitating access and interaction with users.
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4. Type of information
Four complementary levels:
- Basic content on the main themes of health and disaster management, presented as an electronic book, with links to many other documents that are expanding and deepening the contents in each theme.
- Publications, technical documents and training materials from PAHO and WHO.
- Other reference documents that may be provided electronically, either as full text, or links.
- Other information resources or training.