Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
PAHO/WHO promoting smart, green and safe hospitals in C’bean
News
September 24, 2015

PAHO/WHO promoting smart, green and safe hospitals in C’bean

WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) – Two United Nations health organizations have launched a campaign to promote safe, green and smart hospitals in the Caribbean.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) said that nearly seven in 10 hospitals in Latin America and the Caribbean are located in disaster prone areas, putting them at risk of becoming casualties themselves during hurricanes, earthquakes or flooding.

They said the Smart Hospitals programme, a multi-year initiative financed by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), targets a dozen hospitals in Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

They said when Tropical Storm Erika struck Dominica in late August, causing death and destruction, three hospitals on the island were in the process of being evaluated as part of the programme.

“Natural disasters can have a major impact on the health sector and on people’s lives, and we need to ensure that health facilities are built to resist disasters while also being environmentally friendly,” said Dana Van Alphen, coordinator of the programme.

“A bonus is that hospitals that participate in this program also see their operating costs decline and produce less pollution.”

PAHO/WHO said a hospital is considered “smart” when it links structural and operational safety with green interventions, at a reasonable cost-benefit ratio.

“In “green” hospitals, air quality improves, water and energy costs decline, and people’s working conditions improve. These improvements also affect users’ decisions to visit health facilities: in hospitals that have adopted the Smart Hospitals programme, the number of users seeking care has increased by 40 per cent,” they said in a joint statement.

They said that participating hospitals have instituted measures including reinforcing their roofs and windows to resist hurricane-force winds, and installing new rainwater-collection tanks and solar panels to supplement their traditional sources of water and energy.

Other measures include improvements in accessibility for people with disabilities, use of energy-efficient LED light bulbs, and replacing air conditioners with newer, more energy-efficient models.

To help health administrators implement the Smart Hospitals programme, PAHO/WHO and a team of experts in public health, disasters, engineering, architecture, economics, energy and the environment developed a special toolkit that includes the Hospital Safety Index, a rapid-assessment tool for determining the probability that a health facility will be able to continue functioning in an emergency.

They have also developed a Baseline Assessment Tool to collect information a building’s performance and operations and how it measures up against current code, regulatory requirements and zoning regulations, and a Green Checklist which outlines feasible areas where “smart” measures can be introduced.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

US eases sanctions on Venezuela central bank
International News, Latest News
US eases sanctions on Venezuela central bank
April 14, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—The United States on Tuesday eased sanctions against Venezuela's central bank in the Trump administration's latest mov...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Forex: $159.32 to one US dollar
Latest News, News
Forex: $159.32 to one US dollar
April 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Tuesday, April 14, ended trading at $159.32 up from 23 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Atletico resist Barca comeback to reach Champions League semis
International News, Latest News
Atletico resist Barca comeback to reach Champions League semis
April 14, 2026
MADRID, Spain (AFP)—Atletico Madrid sent 10-man Barcelona crashing out of the Champions League and reached the final four with a 3-2 aggregate victory...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Motorists with outstanding traffic tickets urged to comply with the law
Latest News, News
Motorists with outstanding traffic tickets urged to comply with the law
April 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Delroy Chuck has warned motorists who ignore traffic tickets that failure to comply with...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
IMF cuts 2026 global growth forecast on Middle East war
International News, Latest News
IMF cuts 2026 global growth forecast on Middle East war
April 14, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—The International Monetary Fund (IMF) cut its 2026 global growth projection Tuesday, warning that the world economy co...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
‘The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender’ leaks online months before premiere
International News, Latest News
‘The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender’ leaks online months before premiere
April 14, 2026
A full, non-watermarked version of  The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender , the upcoming animated sequel film, has reportedly surfaced online months ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Trinidad and Tobago freezes assets linked to Middle East terrorist groups
Latest News, Regional
Trinidad and Tobago freezes assets linked to Middle East terrorist groups
April 14, 2026
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC)–The Concerned Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago has criticised the decision of Kamla Perrsad-Bissessar government to offici...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Burchell says St James Southern neglected in post-hurricane recovery efforts
Latest News, News
Burchell says St James Southern neglected in post-hurricane recovery efforts
April 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Member of Parliament for St James Southern, Nekeisha Burchell, has criticised the pace and fairness of hurricane recovery efforts,...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct