Strengthening readiness to respond to emergencies
Individuals, communities and health systems face hazards from seasonal threats, unpredictable high impact challenges and complex changes resulting from pandemics and climate change. We need to be ready to face the biggest risks to human health; to be able to rapidly respond to the public health emergencies they might cause. Building this readiness in every country will protect lives and livelihoods.
Readiness can reduce the impact of priority risks by allowing rapid activation of people and systems to respond. It requires careful risk assessment, multisectoral engagement and core capability strengthening.
WHO’s Country Readiness Strengthening Department assists countries and communities to assess their risks and readiness, to identify gaps, to prioritize necessary actions and to take remedial measures. We help countries to rapidly and efficiently scale-up their readiness capabilities through setting norms and standards and by providing guidance and tools. These underpin the mobilization of resources by engaging all relevant sectors and partners. We develop and deliver training to policymakers, healthcare and technical professionals, and communities to ensure that guidance can be translated into concrete actions. When public health emergencies do occur, WHO responds quickly with critical support to countries to coordinate partners and to ensure adequate service delivery systems and equitable access to countermeasures.
