Health sector approach to vulnerability reduction and emergency preparedness.

Vulnerability is increasing year by year. Statistics show that not only are the human and economic costs of emergencies and disasters increasing, but that the cost of relief assistance has increased 10-fold in the last 11 years. Relief assistance alone can lead to increased vulnerability, by reducing development assistance and leading to further social crises The concept of vulnerability consist of two aspects, susceptibility and resilience; vulnerability reduction aims to reduce susceptibility to hazards and increase community resilience to emergencies. Vulnerability reduction involves vulnerability assessment, hazard prevention and mitigation, and emergency preparedness. Vulnerability reduction aims to decrease community susceptibility and increase community resilience, and can focus on emergencies thus preventing many disasters. Vulnerability reduction protects human development, and prepared communities can maintain and improve their level of development. Vulnerability reduction is the responsibility of all, including the health sector, and all sectors at all levels must assist communities to participate in reducing vulnerability. The health sector work in vulnerability reduction requires coordination at all levels within a country. WHO has been assisting in this work at the international, regional and country levels for many years. There is a need for statistical indicators of vulnerability and the harm caused by major emergencies. Data from these indicators will assist in monitoring and evaluating vulnerability reduction, and targeting communities at risk.