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 Safe hospitals in the spotlight
On 30 November, a meeting took place in WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean to discuss the latest developments and future goals for the Region's hospitals safe from disasters programme. The programme is part of the World Disaster Reduction Campaign on Hospitals Safe from Disasters, launched in 2008 by the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Secretariat and WHO, with support from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery of the World Bank. Read more >>
Training course on the management of public health risks in emergencies, Tunisia
The WHO Regional Office hosted the sixth regional training course on the management of public health risks in emergencies in Tunisia from 1–13 November 2010.
More than 45 senior health managers from the Region attended the two-week residential course on the management of critical public health issues in emergencies. The health professionals gained insight into the importance of emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction and response recovery procedures, with a focus on risk management as a framework for policy-making and planning within the national development process.
Participants also became familiar with current international standards for emergency and humanitarian action, recognizing the importance of a comprehensive emergency preparedness and response recovery plan in minimizing loss of life and damage in times of conflict and disaster.
WHO celebrates International Day for Disaster Reduction in Cairo
The International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) was celebrated in Egypt by the Egyptian Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC) in collaboration with UNISDR ROAS on 13 October 2010. The event was attended by all UN agencies, including WHO country and regional offices. The governors of Cairo, Alexandria, Ismailia and Sharm El-Sheikh were also present to mark the occasion. More >>
World Humanitarian Day
 Held annually on 19 August, 2010 World Humanitarian Day coincided with one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent history.
World Humanitarian Day was launched in 2008 by the General Assembly of the United Nations to honour humanitarian and associated personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This year, World Health Day is being celebrated as aid workers around the world respond to assist those affected by the devastating floods in Pakistan.
The focus of World Humanitarian Day 2010 is on the actual work and achievements of humanitarian workers in the field. Under the theme of “We are humanitarian workers“, the day provides an opportunity to recognize the dedication of aid workers who have devoted their lives to humanitarian work. Last year, 108 aid workers were killed and 278 humanitarians were victims of serious security incidents. The Day is also intended to emphasize current humanitarian needs and challenges worldwide, including threats to humanitarian aid workers by conflicting parties and the challenges involved in reaching people in need.
To mark this year’s World Humanitarian Day, the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has created a collaborative film featuring aid workers from across the globe. The 2010 World Humanitarian Day film was shot in over 40 countries with the goal of showing the enormous diversity of places, faces and endeavours of humanitarian aid workers.
Regional Director's speech (Arabic - English)
Related links
Public Health Pre-Deployment Course (PHPD)
Hammamet, Tunisia 30 November - 11 December 2009
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Fifth global meeting of heads of WHO country offices with the Director-General and Regional Directors, Geneva, 2-5 November 2009
On 3 November, HAC worked with another WHO cluster, HSE, to arrange and run a public health emergency simulation exercise for WHO Country Representatives in Geneva.
Heads of WHO offices in countries and regions affected by crises gave presentations on key concepts, including the Health Cluster approach.
Granada consensus on sexual and reproductive health in protracted crises and recovery
On 28 October, WHO and UNFPA will update the IASC Weekly meeting in Geneva on the outcome of the 28–30 September Expert Consultation held in Granada on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Protracted Crises and Recovery.
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