Background
The indoor environment of a health care facility is complex and requires special attention to ensure a healthy indoor environmental quality (IEQ) to protect patients, visitors, health care workers and support personnel against diseases. IEQ in a health care facility is critical, since patients have less immunity.
Moreover, patients and health care staff remain in the building over extended periods of time. Indoor environments are highly complex and building occupants may be exposed to a variety of contaminants (in the form of gases and particles) from office machines, cleaning products, construction activities, carpets and furnishings, perfumes, cigarette smoke, water-damaged building materials, microbial growth (fungal, mold, and bacterial), insects, and outdoor pollutants. Other factors such as indoor temperatures, relative humidity, and ventilation levels can also affect how individuals respond to the indoor environment.
PAHO report
In 2023, PAHO published the document Guidance on Indoor Environmental Quality in Health Care Facilities. This document presents an analysis of the airborne chemical and microbiological contaminants of concern for health care facilities and is intended to support Member States efforts to achieve high quality standards of IEQ.
Along with the publication of this document, PAHO, through the Unit of Climate Change and Environmental Determinants of Health is deploying a capacity building strategy to foster the implementation of the document recommendations. This webinar session will present the scope of the document, roadmap for its application and a case of study portraying capacity building activities in Jamaica.
Purpose
To launch the document Guidance on Indoor Environmental Quality in Health Care Facilities, and outline PAHO technical cooperation strategy to advance IEQ in health care facilities in the Caribbean.
Details
- WHEN: Tuesday, September 12th
- WHERE: ZOOM
- TIME: 2:00-4:00pm (ET, US and Canada), 1:00-3:00pm (Eastern Standard Time, Caribbean)
Agenda
Topic
Opening remarks
Daniel Buss. Unit Chief. Climate Change and Environmental Determinants of Health (PAHO).
What is this about? Guidance on Indoor Environmental Quality in Health Care Facilities
Juan J. Castillo. Air Quality and Health Advisor. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Jamaica: Assessing IEQ in Health Care Facilities.
Marsha-Ann Palmer. Ministry of Health and Wellness, Jamaica.
Questions and Answers.
Moderated by Serene Joseph / Ana Claudia Gastal (PAHO).
Advancing IEQ in the Caribbean, an Overview of a Strategy for Health Care Facilities.
Luis Francisco Sánchez. Health, Environmental and Climate Change Advisor (PAHO).
Closing remarks
Juan J. Castillo. Advisor in Air Quality and Health Climate Change and Environmental Determinants of Health Unit (PAHO).