Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Situations: A Guide for Effective Aid (PAHO Occasional Publication)

This technical document is a framework for action. Its objective is to guide the psychiatric care deinstitutionalization process in the context of Latin America and the Caribbean. The essential purpose of deinstitutionalization is to limit the role of psychiatric hospitals by incorporating acute care hospital beds into general hospitals and replace those psychiatric facilities with community-supported housing solutions for people with severe mental illness. At the same time, there must be an efficient network of community-based mental health services. This involves the priority development of effective new community practices and services that protect the rights of people with mental illness. This publication summarizes the facilitators and barriers that will be encountered in the deinstitutionalization process and identifies useful and proven interventions in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Four areas of work are identified with the respective guidelines or suggestions for action, which should provide an operational guide for countries that are restructuring mental health services and moving toward the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric care. Table of contents......Page 4 An Overview......Page 6 Moving from Improvised to Planned Disaster Response in the Americas......Page 7 A Regional Policy for International Health Relief Assistance......Page 8 Principles of Humanitarian Assistance......Page 10 Obtaining International Disaster Relief......Page 13 After a Disaster Occurs, Do.........Page 15 Discourage Sending......Page 16 Consult Further About Donations......Page 18 Myths and Realities of Natural Disasters......Page 19 Effects of Disasters on Health......Page 21 Annex 1 SUMA......Page 23 Annex 2 Pan American Health Organization. Disaster Contacts......Page 25 These are some examples of the practical advice and recommendations offered in the Guide for Effective Aid. It provides strong evidence that humanitarian assistance can considerably benefit a country ravaged by disaster if it responds with real needs. Likewise, when responding with unsolicited donations, or when donors have a misguided view of those needs, it can also become a burden. This new Guide combines and updates several publications that PAHO has published in the last 15 years. We hope their recommendations and principles will help donors and beneficiaries in making their decision