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WHO: Weekly epidemiological record No. 36, 2010, 85, 349-356
Environmental disasters or armed confl icts frequently give rise to health emergencies, sometimes on a major scale. The price paid in terms of human lives and health can be very heavy. The direct impact of events is compounded by deterioration in living conditions and health services, which in some cases were precarious even before the emergency.
For already vulnerable populations, the loss of adequate access to water, a healthy environment and proper hygiene are additional handicaps. Health facilities and the health-care system as a whole require constant vigilance because patients are at increased risk of infection.
WHO's interventions in health emergencies focus on public health surveillance and support for health systems, and also on environmental hygiene conditions including the quality of the treatment provided to patients and the population in general. This article presents and illustrates the framework of interventions in the area of water and sanitation in health emergencies. The article explains the WHO mandate in this area, describes some practical aspects of the intervention following the earthquake, and discusses the lessons learnt with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of similar interventions in the future.