World Health Day 2009

Below you will find some introductory text from the World Health Organization on the World Health Day 2009 theme of Safer Hospitals.  Global Risk Forum GRF Davos has created an Executive Circle on our Platform for Networks whose sole purpose is to discuss this issue. 

Professor Teodoro Herbosa, of the University of the Philippines, Manila National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia - UKM) is the Chair of this Executive Circle.  His fields of expertise are Safe Hospitals, Safe Surgery, Mass Casualties,  Essential and Emergency Surgical Care.

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If you wish to read more on the World Health Day 2009, please follow the link to the World Health Organization here, or in the column to the right.

Save lives – make hospitals safe

Save lives. Make hospitals safe in emergencies, World Health Day 2009.

World Health Day 2009 focuses on the safety of health facilities and the readiness of health workers who treat those affected by emergencies. Health centres and staff are critical life-lines for vulnerable people in disasters - treating injuries, preventing illnesses and caring for people's health needs. They are cornerstones for primary health care in communities –meeting everyday needs, such as safe childbirth services, immunizations and chronic disease care that must continue in emergencies. Often, already fragile health systems are unable to keep functioning through a disaster, with immediate and future public health consequences.

The Davos launch of the World Disaster Reduction Campaign “Hospitals Safe from Disasters” brings together inspirational and dedicated leaders from the world of politics, health, research, development, and disaster risk reduction, to advocate for how we all can work to reduce risk, protect health facilities and save lives.

Safe health facilities are vital for health and development goal

Health services are not only critical emergency centres; they play a vital role in recovery, social cohesion and economic development. The long-term impact of the loss of public health services on the Millennium Development Goals exceeds the impact of delayed treatment of trauma injuries. Hospitals, primary health centres, and other health facilities are central to sustainable recovery from disaster, and to health-driven development goals, taking key roles in:

• ongoing health surveillance to prevent outbreaks

• public health and sanitation campaigns, particularly preventive medicine

• attracting health research and hosting reference laboratories, driving innovation

• acting as focal points for community organizations

Disaster can wipe out huge swathes of the health systems in developing countries or vulnerable regions, seriously compromising developing countries’ potential to achieve the Millennium Development Goals of reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases.

Download the flyer of the "Hospitals Safe from Disasters" launch >>>
(1.27 MB, PDF)