- The Pacific basin covers 1/3 of the world surface. 32 million people of this region live in 22 Pacific island developing nations (PIDNs).
- PIDNs have the largest environmental disaster burden of any region in the world. During 1990-1999, this region lead the world in per capita disaster mortality, cumulative percentage of total population affected, per capita disaster damage costs, and ten largest earthquakes on the Richter scale.
- Pacific islands are particularly vulnerable to disaster hazards with limited capacity to respond and recover.
- Studies identified serious deficiencies among Pacific island nations in healthcare, medical workforce, and health facilities.
- Organizational and technological solutions to environmental emergencies developed in industrialized nations are not practical for small island developing states where human and technological resources are scarce and expensive.
- Established the Pacific Emergency Health Initiative (PEHI) in 2000 with a mission to strengthen the capacity for emergency preparedness and response among all PIDNs.
- Founded the Palau Pacific Center for Emergency Health in 2001 to serve as a regional center for training and education in the Pacific region.
- Performed public health vulnerability assessments in 11 PIDNs.
- Initiated public health emergency plans for seven PIDNs prior to September 11, 2001.
- Developed PEHI-NET, an Internet-based information and communication tool available to all PIDNs.
- Trained more than 400 Pacific medical and public health officials in emergency preparedness and response, including 6 Health Ministers and Secretaries of Health.
- Prepared an issue of the regional public health journal, Pacific Health Dialog, on emergency health in the Pacific.
- Established a fire protection training exchange program between the Republic of Palau and U.S.A. fire departments.
- Provided emergency technical assistance to the Federated States of Micronesia in response to the 2002 landslide disaster that killed 38 people.
- Hosted four international conferences on public health preparedness among the Pacific island nations.
- Developed and tested an innovative approach to disaster planning in the Pacific that will likely influence public health planners and NGOs worldwide.
- Applied methodology and training developed in the Pacific to write a public health emergency plan for the Republic of Tanzania, (an African nation of 27 million people).
- Assisted all six US Associated Pacific Islands in preparing for bioterrorism.
- Organized the first simultaneous regional emergency drill, which included four PIDNs.
- Help three Pacific island nations write comprehensive all hazard public health emergency operation plans.
- Promote sustainable indigenous education in emergency health and disaster management at the undergraduate and graduate levels in regional colleges and technical schools.
- Provide education and training for over 200 more Pacificans involving public health and medical responses to environmental health emergencies.
What is the Public Health Problem?
What has CDC Accomplished?
What are the next steps?
