Institutional vulnerability of the health sector to disasters: perspective of professionals and managers from Nova Friburgo

Abstract

Some countries have lost up to 50% of their hospital capacity due to extreme events. Approximately 67% of Latin American and Caribbean health facilities are located in disaster-prone areas. Given the conditions of vulnerability, these disasters pose a threat to public health. If the health sector itself is vulnerable, a particular event could affect the lives of more people, both workers and users who are currently in health facilities, if they are located in risk areas, such as compromising their ability to respond to impacts of this event in the health of the population. Most disaster studies are conducted by listening to the population, their perceptions and social representations. However, few studies have been done on the perception of health workers in these disasters. Through interviews with health professionals and managers in the municipality of Nova Friburgo, it was identified that, in addition to the vulnerability of health infrastructure in risk areas, the sector also becomes vulnerable due to the lack of preparation and participation in the elaboration of municipal health plans risk management, as well as the lack of participation of senior professionals and communities in the elaboration of the Sector's own plans.