WPRO EHA reviews safe hospitals project
2-4 March 2011
9 March 2011 – The Emergency and Humanitarian Action (EHA)unit of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO), in partnership with the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), conducted the midterm review of the second phase of the Hospitals Safe from Disasters (HSFD) campaign on 2-4 March 2011 in Manila.
The second phase of the project aims to expand mapping and assessment of different levels of hospitals in small and medium sized cities, integrate HSFD concepts in national development plans and policies, and support further development and adaptation of tools and resources. This will mainstream disaster risk reduction in the health sector within the framework of the global campaign for safer cities in 2010-2011.
Through several workshops and group discussions, the review team evaluated the accomplishments of the past seven months against the proposed program of activities in terms of outputs, target dates and budget. Focal points from implementing countries Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines and Viet Nam provided progress reports for updates and concerns. Issues, experiences and views from different perspectives were shared between participants. From these in-depth discussions, recommendations and strategies for the effective continuation of the project were then developed.
“The project has achieved a lot of progress,” said Dr Arturo Pesigan, EHA Technical Officer. “But we must continue to work together as we move toward the achievement of goals that go beyond the project. Eventually, countries should be able to implement and integrate safe hospitals concepts in and through their own initiatives and national disaster preparedness plans.”