Disasters: Preparedness and Mitigation in the Americas

Issue 110 - October 2008

This edition's editorial focuses on climate change and disaster programs in the health sector, as changes in climate have had a direct impact on recent disasters. This edition is the first with a new 12-page format, which includes an interview section--PAHO's Director is the first subject--a section on safe hospitals and one on perspectives.

Hospital Safety Index - Evaluation Forms

The Evaluation Forms for Safe Hospitals are divided in two parts: Form 1 collects general information about the health facility, and should be completed prior to the evaluation of the health facility. Form 2 (Safe Hospital Checklist)is used to assess the level of safety of 145 areas of the health facility.

Hospital Safety Index - Guide for Evaluators

The Guide for Evaluators is the principal training tool of the Hospital Safety Index. It provides guidance and standardized criteria for evaluating the components of a health facility individually and as part of the health services network. The Guide explains the methodology and rationale for the Hospital Safety Index as well as how to calculate and interpret the health facility’s safety score.

Safe Hospitals

Keeping hospitals safe from disasters

Created to disseminate and promote the concept and strategy of Safe Hospital, with a comprehensive perspective, that includes not only the health sector. It explains what a safe hospital is and why it is essential to have a safe hospitals. Includes political and technical testimony which show the commitment that already exists in many countries regarding this subject, and presents examples of good practices in Latin America, breaking the myth that it is very expensive or impossible to build a hospital than can continue being operational after a disaster.

Virtual Health Library for Disasters

English, Spanish and French

An electronic collection of more than 500 public health publications on disaster reduction and complex emergencies in full text.