Disaster Risk Management: A Strategy for the Health Sector in the African Region

The WHO African Region continues to be challenged by frequent natural and man-made emergencies causing injury; death; population displacement; destruction of health facilities and disruption of services; often leading to disasters. The frequency and magnitude of emergencies and disasters have increased since the adoption; in 1997; of the Regional Strategy on Emergency Preparedness and Response. In addition several global initiatives developed since 2005; including the World Health Assembly resolution WHA64.10 (Strengthening national health emergency and disaster management capacities and resilience of health systems) adopted in 2011; have focused on disaster risk management (DRM) as the approach to containing and minimizing the impact of emergencies. WHO has recognized the need for Member States to formulate policies and legislation; and develop capacities in order to institutionalize DRM in the health sector. An assessment conducted in 2011 revealed that most countries in the Region lack these policies; capacities and legislation. This regional strategy proposes that Member States strengthen DRM by developing appropriate laws and policies; building adequate capacities in ministries of health; assessing and mapping the risks from a health sector perspective; assessing the level of safety of; and applying standards to; hospitals and other health facilities; building community resilience; strengthening preparedness; developing national standards for response; and strengthening evidence and knowledge management. This will ensure that the health system has been prepared and will be able to provide adequate health sector response to emergencies and reduce their likelihood of becoming disasters

The Role of Forensic Dentist Following Mass Disaster

This review article focuses on mass disaster situations that may arise from natural or manmade circumstances and the significant role of forensic dental personnel in human identification following such occurrences. The various forensic dental modalities of identification that include matching techniques; postmortem profiling; genetic fingerprinting; dental fossil assessment and dental biometrics with digital subtraction were considered. The varying extent of use of forensic dental techniques and the resulting positive impact on human identification were considered. The importance of preparation by way of special training for forensic dental personnel; mock disaster rehearsal; and use of modern day technology was stressed. The need for international standardization of identification through the use of Interpol Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) for ms was further emphasized. Recommendations for improved human identification in Nigerian situation include reform of the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA); incorporation of dental care in primary health care to facilitate proper ante mortem database of the populace and commencement of identification at site of disaster