Emergencies and disasters: WHO Regional Committee, sixty-fifth session

This document responds to the need to ensure that health measures focused on prevention and mitigation of risks related to natural hazards are implemented in the Western Pacific Region. It presents the draft Western Pacific Regional Framework for Action for Disaster Risk Management for Health, which focuses on all phases of the disaster risk management for health (DRM-H) cycle: prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in order to prevent and mitigate risks associated with disasters.

The framework is primarily intended to provide guidance to senior- and middle-level managers in ministries of health of the Western Pacific Region countries and areas responsible for DRM related to natural and other hazards. In addition, it aims to provide the basis for dialogue, coordination and collaboration with the national policy-makers and senior- and middle-level managers of national disaster management agencies or similar agencies in each country and of the various governmental ministries and technical institutions involved in DRM, in order to enhance the necessary multisectoral approach. This document is also intended for WHO and other international and regional stakeholders involved in providing technical, operational and financial support in national capacity building for DRM-H.

The framework provides guidance for national capacity development in DRM-H in the Western Pacific Region in the coming five years or more. It may be updated or implemented based on the new development of the various ongoing global initiatives, including the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction, known as HFA2, and the development of a global framework for DRM-H.