Strengthening Community Based Health Care Provision Capacity is Critical for Emergency Preparedness – Lessons from Iraq and Uganda

Abstract

Women, children and the poor constitute the most vulnerable groups in emergencies. Continuity of delivery of services at the community level is critical in preventing morbidity and mortality. Insecurity and other disasters reduce access to public health services. Conventional emergency preparedness emphasizes community capacity development after a disaster to build resilience and thereby mitigate against effects of a similar occurrence in the future.