In recent years, the world has seen a surge in natural disasters - from record breaking heatwaves and wildfires to devastating floods and hurricanes. As Climate change accelerates, these extreme events are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more unpredictable. 

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As a result, healthcare systems are being pushed to the brink. 

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During a natural disaster, healthcare facilities are often the first place people turn for safety and treatment. But what happens when hospitals itself are impacted - flooded, cut off from power, or overwhelmed by patients?

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We've seen it happen. In 2021, hospitals in Louisiana faced a double edged sword situation with handling both Covid 19 and Hurricane Ida, where hospitals were forced to evacuate patients in the middle of the hurricane. In 2022 in Pakistan, catastrophic flooding disrupted medical supply chains leaving vast communities without access to care.

 

These events highlight clear truth: resilient healthcare systems are essential to community survival with disaster preparedness no longer being an option. 

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Unfortunately, many healthcare providers lack updated emergency plans, climate risk assessments, or sustainable infrastructure. 

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So, what does disaster preparedness mean in healthcare?

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Disaster preparedness in healthcare is the process of planning and equipping medical facilities and staff to respond effectively to emergencies and ensure continuous, safe patient care during crises.

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In hindsight, disaster preparedness in healthcare means:

• Ensuring backup power, clean water, and secure medical supplies. 

• Training staff for emergency response and evacuation.

• Protecting Vulnerable Patients (e.g. elderly, disabled, pregnant women, chronically ill). 

• Building Communication systems that function during power outages.

• Redesigning facilities to withstand climate extremes.

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This kind of resilience doesn't happen over night. It starts with knowledge and leadership. 

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At Own Your Voice Academy, our training program empowers healthcare professionals to be part of the solution. Through our Climate-Resilient Healthcare Training, professionals learn how to:

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• Assess Climate Risks to their Facilities

• Create & Update Disaster Response Plans

• Implement Sustainable Systems that Withstand Future Shocks

• Improve Waste Management 

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In the end....

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Natural Disasters waits for no one and that's why we can't afford to wait.

 

Let's build health systems that can endure and adapt because when disaster strikes, healthcare institutions are ready to be set in motion.

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Get Trained. Get Ready. Lead with Resilience. 

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