Research Snapshot: How can cities best prepare for disasters?

This study developed and tested the City’s Assessment of Mass Casualty Emergency Response and Action tool

From:: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published: 8 October 2021

Country:: Nigeria, Pakistan
Document Type:: Briefing
Theme:: Health
Authors:: APPNA Public Health Institute, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Johns Hopkins University, Universedade de Fortaleza, University of Port Harcourt

Abstract

This study developed and tested the first tool– City’s Assessment of Mass Casualty Emergency Response and Action (CAMERA)- designed to objectively measure and score the lifesaving capability of urban health systems in the aftermath of a mass casualty event. The tool can help city health authorities identify critical gaps and improve disaster response plans before a real disaster strikes.

Through testing CAMERA in two cities, the team show the tool effectively identified gaps in a city’s medical response system, providing actionable recommendations to help authorities improve preparedness. The team aims to test the tool in more cities and raise awareness of the need for cities to prepare health systems to respond to disaster.

This snapshot contains key messages, findings, implications for humanitarian policymakers and practitioners and recommendations for further research.

This research was supported by the Research for Health in Humanitarian Crises (R2HC) Programme

Citation

APPNA Public Health Institute, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Johns Hopkins University, Universedade de Fortaleza, University of Port Harcourt (2021) Research Snapshot: How can cities best prepare for disasters? Elrha