WHO asks countries to learn from past to prepare for disasters

New Delhi, June 28 (UNI) The World Health Organisation has urged countries to learn from past experiences in dealing with disasters like tsunami and earthquakes to further strengthen emergency preparedness and response capacity based on risk assessment.

"Although we may not be able to prevent a disaster from happening, by applying lessons learnt from previous disasters we can manage the magnitude of the outcome and mitigate the suffering of those affected," said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia Region while addressing the 'Regional consultation on emergency preparedness and response: from lessons to action'.

"The best schools for training in disaster management are disasters themselves, and countries and aid agencies learnt important lessons from the devastating December 26, 2004 tsunami." Objecting that the tsunami claiming the lives of over two hundred thousand people across many countries, Dr Samlee said that the two most important lessons learnt are the need to strengthen national capacity in emergency preparedness and response, based on risk assessment, and to ensure that these policies and strategies are multi-sectoral.

"We must learn the lessons of history otherwise humankind is fated to repeat the same mistakes. We have learnt many lessons from having dealt with disasters like the tsunami, and it is important that we must now act on these lessons in the future," he observed.

The consultation has been organised by WHO to learn from the past to be able to cope better in the future. Member countries of WHO's South-East Asia Region, including India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand which were affected by the tsunami, NGOs, key donors and WHO staff are meeting for three days in Bali, Indonesia to shore their experiences, particularly for the health sector and incorporate them into their national plans and policies for future action.

All disaster preparedness efforts are designed mainly to save lives and to protect health, and WHO is working with Member Countries to strengthen the health sector response and preparedness efforts.

Since the tsunami of December 2004, several countries of the Region have faced emergencies, including both natural and man-made calamities. The experience gathered in dealing with the tsunami provided invaluable insights and strengthened the capacity of the health sector to respond to these.

More UNI AJ YA ND1456