Rebuilding health systems: WHO's efforts through partnership: the Tsunami experience

Abstract

This document attempts to record the work of WHO in the relief and recovery phases of the disaster. WHO undertook a detailed multi-sectoral assessment of the existing health system and planned interventions to ensure long-term health benefits. The driving principle in all interventions has been to equip the community at the grass-roots level and build the system to make it sustainable. WHO India's work in tsunami-affected regions covers wide areas of public health such as diseases surveillance, psychosocial support, health promotion through environmental sanitation, setting up resource centres and information hubs and strengthening services to mothers, newborns and children. These activities were carried out in collaboration with various WHO collaborating centres, academic institutions and nongovernmental organizations.