Disaster Risk Management: A Strategy for the Health Sector.

The Policy provides a framework for priority areas for actions to promote Disaster Risk Management (DRM) with the aim of increasing Samoa’s resilience to natural and human-induced hazards and reducing potential impacts from disaster. The objective of the Policy is to enhance knowledge, abilities and capacities at all levels for disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery within the Health Sector in Samoa. The guiding principles of the Strategy are built on equity in access to services, country ownership, participation of communities and civil society, strengthening partnerships, and intersectoral collaboration. The text is designed in 12 Parts and among others refer to centrality of community involvement; attention to cross cutting issues; strengthening DRM capacities; gaps to address; recommended actions; roles and responsibilities relating to DRM; and monitoring and evaluation. The Policy has 7 Annexes.