Address at National Health Emergencies & Disaster Preparedness Workshop

Wednesday, 21st October 2009 – 9.00am
Fiji School of Medicine, Tamavua Campus

The Dean, Fiji School of Medicine,

The WHO Representative in the South Pacific,

The Director, National Disaster Management Office,

Representatives of UN agencies,

Invited guests and workshop participants.

Good morning to you all.

It gives me great pleasure for being invited to officially launch this workshop on Emergency Health and Disaster Preparedness, here at the Fiji School of Medicine.

Disasters and emergencies are now part of our normal vocabulary and life.  Disasters and emergencies now contribute to mortality figures in all countries around the world. Currently, for such a time as this, we don’t have to look far to see the impact of disasters in our region – with the recent earthquakes, tsunami and cyclone tragedies experienced in Asia and the Pacific – in Samoa and Tonga.

The Department of Public Health and Primary Care of the Fiji School of Medicine is commended for taking on the challenge of delivering training and continuing medical education in the area of emergency health and disaster preparedness.

The health sector recognizes the need for a prepared and responsive health workforce with diverse health-emergency-management knowledge and the skills and abilities necessary to strengthen preparedness and response to an emergency or disaster.

Being a key player in all aspects of the disaster management cycle and as such, we have a moral and professional role and obligation to equip the health workforce with the necessary knowledge and skills and in developing the relevant infrastructure, thus this workshop.

The Ministry of Health has national health emergency preparedness plans in place that provide clear guidelines on managing national health threats to Fiji, example being the Pandemic Preparedness Plan.

However, there is a need to strengthen the development and implementation of emergency and disaster preparedness plans for the operational levels such as health centers and sub-divisional hospitals where frontline personnel are expected to provide an array of preventive, curative and rehabilitative services to individuals, families and groups – particularly to the most vulnerable populations. 

These plans should integrate well within the health infrastructure as well as the national disaster management plans of DISMAC and those of other key stakeholders in Fiji and the region. 

2008 to 2009 is designated as Safe health facilities in Disasters years.

This workshop will emphasize on the elements of the safe hospital and in so doing will enhance knowledge and commitment to attaining safe hospitals for all in Fiji.

The World Health Organization as the leader in health in the Western Pacific Region is assisting with technical support to this workshop through the provision of a consultant and expert in emergency health and disaster management.

It is hoped that this workshop will build greater capacity of our frontline personnel in hospitals and health centers towards preparedness and response to disasters and emergencies.

This workshop, although it begins today will continue behind the scenes over the next six months where you the participants will implement what you have learnt in this workshop in the various health centers and hospitals that you represent.

It is our hope that following this workshop, all health centers and hospitals in Fiji will attain and maintain a satisfactory and sustainable level of emergency preparedness and response at all times. This is to ensure that health facilities and health personnel can continue to provide essential health services during disaster situations.

In conclusion, may I take this opportunity to thank all our partners and stakeholders, and the World Health Organization for your continuing support and assistance.

Last, but not the least I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Dean and the staff of the Fiji School of Medicine, for taking on the challenge in organizing and conducting this much needed training.

I wish the participants every success and may it be an enjoyable, productive and a rewarding program for you all. 

I now have much pleasure in declaring open the 3 day National Health Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness Workshop.

Thank you.

 Dr Neil Sharma.
Minister of Health