MANILA, 17 March 2009 — World Health Day 2009, on April 7, will be devoted to raising awareness about the need to build hospitals and health facilities that are safe from natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. With the theme of "Save lives! Make hospitals safe in emergencies", the annual event seeks to promote safety of health facilities as well as the readiness of health workers to respond to the needs of those affected by emergencies.
This theme has special significance in the Western Pacific Region, which has accounted for more than a quarter of the world's natural disasters in the past 10 years, causing significant damage to health facilities
An earthquake last year in Sichuan, China, destroyed or damaged more than half of health facilities. In the Philippines, a powerful typhoon in June 2008 collapsed or damaged 89 hospitals and health facilities. In Viet Nam, a powerful typhoon in August 2008 caused massive flooding and damaged or destroyed 61 health facilities. In Fiji, torrential rains flooded hospitals and health centres, destroying water pipes and sewage lines last January.
Disasters and emergencies will continue to occur. Hospital facilities should, therefore, be designed and built to withstand disasters, protect patients and health workers, and to provide life-saving services after emergencies.
Nations around the Western Pacific will be marking World Health Day in a variety of ways. In Beijing, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan will visit the Sichuan earthquake zone and attend World Health Day celebrations in Beijing. Also present will be the Health Minister of the People's People's Republic of China, Chen Zhu, and WHO's Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Shin Young-soo.
World Health Day
Safe Hospitals Campaign