THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION

NEPAL

An Introduction to

Emergency & Humanitarian Action Programme

2002-2003

Overall Objectives of WHO’s Emergency Programme

In non-emergencies, the overall objectives of the programme are to increase the capacity and self-reliance of member countries to prevent and prepare for disasters, mitigating their health consequences, and to create a synergy between emergency and sustainable development through appropriate co-ordination mechanisms and response.

In emergencies, the overall objectives of the programme are to act as the directing and co-ordinating authority on international health, to provide technical assistance and necessary aid upon request or acceptance of the Government and subject to available funds.

Mass casualty management mock drill at

Macchindra Bahal Tole, Lalitpur, January 2002.

Collaboration with other United Nations Agencies

WHO is actively taking part in the UN collaborative emergency planning exercise, which has been ongoing since the end of 1999. The UN Disaster Management Team is in the process of developing operational capacity to confront a major earthquake, which is perceived as the most threatening natural hazard facing Nepal.

UN Nepal’s Disaster Response Preparedness Plan is an important tool to preparing and ultimately achieving standing readiness. The Rt. Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. S. B. Deuba, launched first part of the plan at the UN Day in October 2001. WHO has contributed significantly to the development of this document and ensured that it is based on best public health practices during emergencies.

Collaboration with the

Epidemiology & Disease Control Division,

Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health

WHO is actively supporting the health sector emergency planning exercise, which has been ongoing since the end of 2000. The planning process is chaired by senior representatives from the Ministry of Health and is implemented through the national Disaster Health Working Group consisting of members from all major health-related institutions including hospitals.

The Disaster Health Working Group is in the process of developing a comprehensive health sector emergency plan to confront all health aspects of major hazards such as earthquakes, epidemics, floods, landslides and political violence, which are perceived as the most threatening hazards facing the country.

WHO is actively supporting the Ministry of Health’s efforts to enhance the capacity of the health sector to cope with various types of emergencies. Apart from assessment, planning and mitigation, this involves setting up and running training seminars and simulation exercises, and developing and localising various types of training materials.

Previous Successes

Inter-sectoral health and disaster management workshops for 65 participants from all five regions.

Emergency Country Profile of Nepal update in order to incorporate essential information related to emergency preparedness in the health sector.

Poster on myths and realities of natural disasters challenging six common myths concerning the impact of disasters on public health.

Training video on mass casualty management for health sector personnel covering basic steps in establishing an emergency management system.

Disaster Health Working Group revitalisation in order to strengthen the emergency preparedness and disaster response capacity of the health sector.

Conceptualisation of the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response Plan for the Health Sector in Nepal in accordance with UN Nepal’s Disaster Response Preparedness Plan.

Computer-based simulation exercises and training seminars on mass casualty management for 350 medical doctors, nurses, students, paramedics and volunteers.

Regional emergency training and simulation exercises in the Western Region for 50 participants.

Structural assessment of 15 hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley in order to analyse their seismic vulnerability.

Guidelines on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management for District Hospitals providing simple recommendations on how to strengthen local preparedness and management.

Desktop simulation exercise in Pokhara, October 2001.


An artist’s illustration of how the collapse of Bir Hospital would appear (drawing designed by the National Society for Earthquake Technology).

Current Projects

  • Finalisation of part II and III of UN Nepal’s Disaster Response Preparedness Plan. Inter-agency plans need to be revised and agency plans collected and compiled.
  • Finalisation of the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response Plan for the Health Sector in Nepal. Inter-agency plans need to be revised and agency plans collected and compiled.
  • Finalisation of a technical report on the structural assessment of major hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the National Society for Earthquake Technology.
  • Finalisation of Healthy Disasters? - A Reference Book for Emergency Planners and Disaster Managers in the Health Sector describing the disaster management system along with health aspects of emergency preparedness and disaster response.
  • Further implementation of regional emergency training and simulation exercises in the Central and other regions.

Future Plans

  • Implementation of five Disaster Health Working Group meetings and one two-day seminar.
  • Printing of the final version of the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response Plan for the Health Sector in Nepal.
  • Printing of the first version of Emergency Procedures for the Health Sector in Nepal.
  • Implementation of ten batches of two-days computer-based simulation exercises in disaster logistics, triage techniques and emergency medicine for 20 participants at a time.
  • Implementation of three batches of four-days inter-district simulation exercises for 40 first responders at a time.
  • Non-structural vulnerability assessment of major hospitals by an external consultant in collaboration with the National Society for Earthquake Technology.
  • Printing of Guidelines on Non-Structural Earthquake Safety for Health Facilities in collaboration with the National Society for Earthquake Technology.
  • Procurement and distribution of WHO emergency library kits to strategic institutions in country.

Computer-based mass casualty management training in Teku, Kathmandu,

September 2001.

Major Collaboration Partners

  • Hospitals
  • Disaster Health Working Group
  • National Society for Earthquake Technology – Nepal
  • Nepal Red Cross Society
  • United Missions to Nepal
  • DP-Net
  • Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, DHS / MOH
  • Department of NDC & Disaster Management, MOHA
  • United Nations Disaster Management Team
  • United Nations Development Programme
  • Office of U. S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, USAID
  • Royal Danish Embassy
  • Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, Bangkok
  • Asian Disaster Response Unit, OCHA, Kobe
  • GeoHazards International, Palo Alto
  • Pan American Health Organisation, Washington

For further information, please contact

Erik Kjaergaard

Technical Officer

Emergency & Humanitarian Action

World Health Organisation

UN House, P. O. Box 108

Pulchowk, Kathmandu, Nepal

E-mail:

Fax: +977-1-527756

Tel: +977-1-261419 / 523200 ext. WHO

Dr. G. P. Ojha

Director

Epidemiology & Disease Control Division

Department of Health Services

Teku, Kathmandu, Nepal

E-mail:

Fax: +977-1-262268

Tel: +977-1-255796 / 262268

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