The Minister of Health of Costa Rica said that it was an honor for his country to receive this classification, while Dr. Chan stated that the letter represents ÔÇ£very strong recognition of Costa RicaÔÇÖs capacityÔÇØ to respond to emergencies. She expressed hope that Costa Rica will continue to strengthen its capacity, and that of the region and beyond. She affirmed that this is why WHO was created: to help countries respond to emergencies of any kind, be they disasters, epidemics, or another type of crisis.
Meanwhile, Ciro Ugarte, the Director of PAHOÔÇÖs Department of Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief, noted that the countryÔÇÖs political commitment was a key factor in achieving this classification. He said it was consistent with ÔÇ£Costa RicaÔÇÖs long tradition of solidarityÔÇØ developed over decades of preparation in various spheres to respond to emergencies. He recalled that Costa Rica was the venue for the meeting of consultation of the countries of the Americas which drafted the Regional Policy for International Relief Assistance 1986, which included the need to ensure minimum standards of medical care for field hospitals.
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