Geroy, L S A and Pesigan, A M (2011) Disaster risk reduction for health facilities in the Western Pacific region. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 2(3), pp. 268-277. ISSN 1759-5916
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a qualitative report on the implementation of activities aimed at reducing disaster risks through safer health facilities in the Western Pacific region. Design/methodology/approach: In response to the Global Campaign on Hospitals Safe from Disasters 2008-2009, the World Health Organization, with support from the European Commission, provided tools that enabled government, communities and institutions to reduce the risks of their hospitals and health facilities from disasters due to natural hazards. Target countries included Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines and Viet Nam. Different activities were implemented based on country needs, contexts and capacities. Findings: Hospital assessments revealed gaps in infrastructure, essential emergency equipment and functional capacity. Enhancing preparedness and resilience of health facilities is a vital component to ensure risk mitigation and disaster response in communities. Research limitations/implications: The report calls for further studies on specific gaps in health sector capacity, deficiencies in health infrastructure and economic analysis. Practical implications: The health sector should implement disaster risk reduction and preparedness strategies through the support of local and national governments. Originality/value: This is the first report on risk reduction initiatives in the health sector in developing countries in the region. Written at the regional perspective, it engages national and local governments, health policy makers and health facility administrators in the public and private sectors.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Cambodia; health sector capacity; lao PDR; natural disasters; private sector; public sector; risk reduction; the Philippines; viet nam |
| Index terms: | methodology, public sector, natural hazard, economic analysis, disaster risk reduction, local government, Cambodia, private sector, health facility, natural disaster, risk reduction, disaster response, strategy, risk mitigation, implementation, Philippines, developing country, disaster risk |
| Subjects: | administrative law, industry analysis, research methods, Geography, construction type, emergency and crisis management, environmental hazards, design analysis, contractual arrangements, development economics, management, financial risk |
| Topics: | Geographical Context, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Legal Issues, Research Practice, Design Practice, Sustainability, Procurement, International Construction, Construction Technology |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here