Cover photo: PAHO Director Carissa F.. Etienne provides UNASUR Health Ministers with an analysis of emergency response in the Americas.
Geneva, 22 May 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - The countries of the Americas and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have broad experience in responding to emergencies and emerging outbreaks, and have used the lessons learned to improve their response systems, said Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, Director of PAHO (Regional Office of the World Health Organization [WHO]), in remarks to health ministers and delegations of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), in an event prior to the 69th World Health Assembly, which begins this week. Reform of WHO's emergency response capacity is one of the main themes that will be addressed in the plenary session.
Etienne told the UNASUR delegations that "current policies and procedures have worked well in large-scale outbreaks and in emergencies and disasters, facilitating solidarity among the countries of the Region for timely collaboration with the Member States to protect the population against adverse events and reestablish health services and programs."
In 1976, PAHO member countries adopted a resolution to establish a disaster response program, Etienne recalled. Since then the Organization has responded to various emergencies and outbreaks, including Hurricane David in Dominica in 1979 and the earthquakes in Haiti (2010) and Ecuador (2016), incorporating lessons learned for continuous improvement. The program has also has responded to cholera outbreaks, new influenzas such as H1N1 in 2009, and more recently to new viruses in the Region, such as chikungunya and Zika.
Many lessons have been learned in these years, PAHO's Director said. One is that national authorities act as leaders in disasters and outbreaks, and PAHO's role is to help build that leadership. Also, response should not remain solely in the hands of the health ministries, but should involve other sectors. It is important to maintain the resiliency of health systems based on primary health care, as well as strong surveillance systems and the notification of public health events. All countries should work not only to achieve the capacities established in the International Health Regulations (IHR), but to maintain them, Etienne added.
For four decades, PAHO has been building its program to prepare countries emergencies and disasters, particularly during "quiet times" between events. Etienne said that it has also become clear that by decentralizing emergency programs, the Organization has greater capacity to rapidly support countries. For this reason, PAHO has established subregional posts in the Americas.
She also pointed out that PAHO relies on the concept of event management, for example, in response to the Zika outbreak in the Americas since the end of last year. Event management consists of managing health systems, communications, clinical management, epidemiological surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, and mother and child care, among other factors, to effectively help countries detect, prevent, and respond to Zika. There have been more than 25 missions to countries in the Region to identify the gaps and needs in each area, and to activate the support required by each country to combat Zika, Etienne said.
The PAHO Director also highlighted Ecuador's rapid response to the earthquake in April that severely affected several parts of the country. Ecuador's delegation at the meeting acknowledged PAHO's support in the response, particularly in the management of international medical teams and in the assessment of damages to the health system, among other areas.
"The Region of the Americas has a long track record in preparedness and response to outbreaks, emergencies, and disasters. Today, PAHO experts are immediately mobilized to support affected countries in the event of an emergency," Etienne concluded.
