WHO focuses on making hospitals “beacons of security”

[7 April 2009 - 12h01]

WHO focuses on making hospitals â€œbeacons of securityâ€

Today, like every year, 7 April is World Health Day.

And this time the WHO is focusing on the vital importance of providing health facilities that are safe in the event of disasters (natural, accidental or associated with armed conflict). In emergency situations, hospitals are in fact too often affected themselves, thus robbing people of the first line care they so desperately need.

“In major emergencies, such as those caused by earthquakes or floods, some countries have lost as much as 50% of their hospital capacity, right at the time when life-saving services were most acutely needed”states Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organisation. And she calls for the setting up of “hospitals (that) remain standing and functioning as beacons of security and solidity in the midst of disaster and despair.” An appeal that comes at the very moment when, right on our doorstep, Italy is facing a major emergency situation… The WHO advocates the implementation of a series of good practice measures: the construction of new facilities, regular assessment of their safety, simulation exercises, installation of alarm systems, staff training and, of course, standard anti-infections measures.

Everyone remembers only too well the major earthquake last May in Sichuan province in south-west China. More than 87,476 people fell victim under the rubble of their homes, but also in the ruins of hospitals and state schools that did not comply with anti-earthquake standards. But this is not a problem that involves developing countries only.

The earthquake that has just shaken the town of Aquila in the centre of Italy – the human toll is provisionally reckoned at 179 already dead – is there to remind us. At present just one operating theatre is functioning in the town’s only hospital. And on top of that, the facility is suffering from a lack of drinking water. To find out more go to: www.who.int/world-health-day/2009/en/index.html.

Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Health arrived in Kenya yesterday in support of World Health Day. She will be visiting “several health projects in the country”, the Commission states in a press release. Each year the Commission contributes almost half a billion euros to “health actions” under its external cooperation scheme.

Source : WHO, European Commission, 7 April 2009

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