 | Disaster Mitigation for Health Facilities: Guidelines for Vulnerability Appraisal and Reduction in the Caribbean (PAHO-OPS, 2000, 66 p.) |
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2. Role of Health Staff
This Guide has been prepared for health staff who have an important role to play both in relation to their specific responsibilities to provide safe facilities for the public and patients and more generally as advocates of preparedness in their communities and own homes.
The strengthening of unreinforced masonry walls by applying a reinforced-concrete skin during the retrofitting of a hospital after hurricane damage. (Photo Tony Gibbs)
It is not intended that they should become technical experts but rather that they should be able to participate in an informed way in identifying the measures to be taken and in the setting of priorities. It is anticipated that the Guide will be used by the “managers” i.e. the nurses in charge of polyclinics and health centres, hospital administrators and heads of departments.
The final responsibility for correcting any problems identified through the use of this Guide will probably fall to the Public Works Department or the Maintenance Department and if possible they should be involved in any inspection tours of the facility. However, one of the purposes of this Guide is to reduce dependency on these Departments and enable the health staff to make reasonably informed decisions about the vulnerability of their facilities.
The Guide does not replace any existing Building Codes that should always be followed during both the construction of new, and the retrofitting of existing buildings.
This rural clinic, although built of lightweight materials, survived a sever hurricane because of adequate connections at the bases and the roof. (Photo Tony Gibbs)
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