Washington D.C., 9 May 2025 (PAHO) - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recently held a webinar to present and discuss the competency framework for health workers involved in health emergency and disaster preparedness and response. The event was attended by more than 200 participants, including representatives of ministries of health, academic institutions involved in training human resources for health (HRH), academic networks, and professional associations.
The competency framework for health personnel involved in emergency and disaster preparedness and response is the result of a systematic review of international publications on HRH competencies, complemented by consultations with experts in health education and emergency management in the Region of the Americas. The document identifies seven domains and 38 competencies, focusing on health services delivery with a person-, family-, and community-centered approach. It also covers key areas such as decision making, teamwork, the production of evidence and information and their integration into practice, development of autonomous behaviors, and risk reduction in the face of emergencies and disasters.
"When we talk about emergency and disaster response management, we recognize that health personnel are key. Their presence in communities makes them the first line of response, so they must have the necessary skills to act in a timely and effective manner," said Benjamín Puertas, head of PAHO's Human Resources for Health Unit.
The event was attended by Rogelio Pizzi, president of the Latin American and Caribbean Association of Medical Schools and Faculties (ALAFEM); Dr. Patricia Paglini, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Roberta Ladenheim, Vice-Rector of the Universidad del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires; Mauricio Espinel, international PAHO consultant; Benjamín Puertas, head of PAHO’s Human Resources for Health Unit; and Celso Bambaren, head of PAHO's Country Health Emergency Preparedness and IHR Unit. The speakers shared experiences related to curriculum planning, development of competencies as the core of the learning process, and implementation of essential competencies to face the challenges posed by health emergencies and disasters.
With this initiative, PAHO reaffirms its commitment to technical cooperation actions aimed at strengthening the health workforce in the Region of the Americas. This initiative was financially supported by the Universal Health Coverage Partnership (UHCP).
