WHAT: This year's World Health Day campaign focuses on the need to make hospitals safe in disasters. It has three important messages:
- All health facilities must be able to withstand the physical impact of disasters;
- Critical health services must continue to function in all emergency situations; and
- Health workers must be trained and ready to deal with the special challenges these situations impose.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: Pan American Health Organization Regional Headquarters (Room A), 525 23rd Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20037. PAHO is located just four blocks south of the Foggy Bottom/GW metro station.
WHO:
- Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, Director, Pan American Health Organization
- Dr. Josef Reum, Interim Dean, School of Public Health and Health Services, The George Washington University
- RADM W. Craig Vanderwagen, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Panel Discussion
Your Hospital: Will it be there when you need it most?
Milagros Kennett, Staff Architect, Risk Reduction Division, Mitigation Branch, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Health Facilities: What does it take to keep them up and running during emergencies?
Chris Van Gorder, CEO and President, Scripps Health
Our Health Workforce: Do they have the capacity to provide care during disasters?
Dr. Ruth Berggren, Director, Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
Reception in PAHO lobby
WHAT ELSE:
- Safe Hospitals Expo April 6-7
NGOs, professional associations, government agencies and PAHO technical units will showcase what they are doing to help protect hospitals in emergencies.
Links:
For more information please contact Daniel Epstein, Information Officer, Knowledge Management and Communication, tel (202) 974-3459, fax (202) 974-3143.
