Defending well being techniques by lowering catastrophe danger: A name to put money into resilience – PAHO/WHO

Washington, D.C., 13 October 2025 (PAHO)– Four out of ten well being amenities in Latin America and the Caribbean are uncovered to pure hazards. As disasters develop into extra frequent and damaging, public well being techniques have to be prepared to reply to and get well from them—making certain the supply of important well being providers when they’re wanted most.

For the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), lowering service disruptions and minimizing the lack of infrastructure because of disasters is a public well being precedence.

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction—celebrated October 13— brings to gentle the rising affect of disasters and the necessity for preparedness to keep up continuity of care in well being amenities. PAHO joins this 12 months’s theme: “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,” and requires decisive motion to make early investments in preparedness to keep away from far better losses down the street.

Between 2000 and 2022, disasters like hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes impacted greater than 190 million folks within the Americas. While some amenities constructed after 1980 had been constructed to withstand earthquakes, the bulk don’t take into account the results of local weather change. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic made it clear how service disruption can have an effect on communities, particularly in distant areas.

PAHO’s Resilient Hospital Initiative, in its second 12 months of implementation, exemplifies how catastrophe danger discount is being utilized in follow. Under the initiative, collaborating Member States strengthen nationwide insurance policies, reinforce the structural security of well being amenities, and undertake environmentally sustainable applied sciences in an economical method—whereas constructing the coping capability to supply important capabilities. This ensures high-quality and steady life-saving and important providers amid crises, whereas leaving nobody behind.

So far, the technique has focused over 250 hospitals in 13 international locations. It is constructing upon a complete Resilient Hospital Framework developed collectively with WHO/EMRO and over 500 professionals across the globe by highlighting a prioritized, risk-informed method to withstand, adapt, rework and be taught from disasters.

National insurance policies strengthen resilience

Colombia, a champion of hospital resiliency, developed and launched a nationwide coverage to higher defend hospitals from well being emergencies and disasters. The coverage, which focuses on adaptability and fast restoration, updates technical requirements for healthcare infrastructure and danger administration tips for hospitals. With PAHO/WHO assist, 26 well being amenities have begun strategically assessing dangers. Evaluation groups are deployed to precedence departments to doc how well being amenities can enhance resilience. The cities of Bogota and Cali and the division of Huila are already incorporating well being infrastructure resilience into broader catastrophe danger administration and concrete planning efforts.

Examples of resilient hospitals embrace backup energy and water techniques, dependable emergency administration plans (together with danger assessments, speedy response groups, simulation workout routines), and workers coaching for multi-hazard situations. Effective design should account for local weather dangers and place important assets in protected areas, whereas operational resilience is strengthened by stockpiling important provides and making certain versatile provide chains.

Smart hospitals cut back prices

PAHO’s Smart Hospital initiative within the Caribbean, which is supported by UKaid, has improved hospital resilience in over 70 well being amenities in seven international locations within the Caribbean. The websites that had been retrofitted with Smart options in vitality and water utilization have seen between 30-60% in operational price financial savings. Energy enhancements—photo voltaic panels, electrical storage batteries, and low-consumption electrical techniques—are the most important driver of financial savings and constructive return on funding.

PAHO stays dedicated to serving to international locations within the Americas construct safer, greener, and extra resilient well being techniques—defending each infrastructure and the well-being of whole populations.