Responding to health emergencies, developing health workforce capacities for disaster risk management
Developing health workforce capacities to responding to health emergencies is a critical to effective disaster risk management. However, this is an emerging field.
WKC supports research for stronger disaster response and more resilient health systems. In 2018 and 2019, the Centre convened expert meetings to identify gaps in research and knowledge, and promote evidence based recommendations in Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health EDRM).
Coinciding with World Health Worker Week (5-9 April 2021) and aligned with WHO’s Year of Health and Care Workers, WKC is publishing the first in a series of papers to gather evidence-based recommendations for strengthening the health emergency workforce. Laying the groundwork for future studies, this paper identifies research gaps and explores core competencies for Health-EDRM workforce training. This evidence will inform recommendations and best practices to guide policy and practice across WHO regions.
“This is the first step in synthesizing knowledge to address the need for evidence-based recommendations,” said WKC’s technical officer, Dr Ryoma Kayano.
“The consensus study and recommendations from this new body of work will be useful for low-and-middle income countries often affected by disasters for developing their emergency health workforce. In fact, all countries will benefit since COVID-19 has highlighted challenges in health workforce capacities everywhere.”
Japan and Kansai-based experts also contribute to this international research project by sharing experience in managing disasters.
Click here to read more: https://extranet.who.int/kobe_centre/en/project-details/h-edrm_area4