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PAHO NEWS:  Press Releases, Job Vacancies, and Other
Information from the Pan American Health Organization
(PAHO) via the Canadian Society for International Health
(CSIH) http://www.csih.org; Technical Representative in
Canada for PAHO
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Communities Need Training to Respond to Disasters, Experts
Say
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Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, February 17, 1999-
Communities need training to handle rescue, first aid, and
medical attention for disaster victims, as well as lessons
to deal with building evacuation in cases of disaster, a
group of experts recommended today.

In a meeting to evaluate the state of readiness and response
to Hurricanes George and Mitch, sponsored by the Pan
American Health Organization, a group of experts in medical
care said that immediate medical attention must be performed
by local personnel. This is in contrast to the myth that
foreign medical personnel are needed in countries that have
experienced hurricanes, earthquakes, or other disasters.

Hospitals must have emergency plans to organize immediate
responses for disasters, and outside help should be limited
to provision of basic medicines and supplies, as defined by
existing technical standards, the experts said.

Field hospitals "are too costly and inappropriate, usually
do not respond to local needs, and result in under-
utilization of existing services," the experts agreed.

The group of experts also recommended that every country in
the Western Hemisphere form a permanent technical body, with
its own budget and autonomy, to guarantee the country's
immediate response in the case of disaster.

More than 375 experts from 20 countries are participating in
the meeting, which ends Friday with the adoption of a series
of conclusions and recommendations on a variety of topics,
including early warning, assessment of needs, water and
sanitation, medical care. Psychosocial aspects, communicable
diseases, management of supplies, information management,
and other topics.

PAHO, which also serves as the Regional Office for the
Americas of the World Health Organization, works to improve
health and raise living standards in all the countries of
the Americas.

For more information please call Daniel Epstein Tel (202)
974-3459, Fax (202) 974-3143, Office of Public Information,
e-mail: [log in to unmask] 525 Twenty-Third Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037 USA http:\\www.paho.org
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PAHO Vacancy Notices
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Post Title:  Advisor on Communicable Diseases Control
(REISSUE To extend closing date); Level: P.4; Post Number:
4.0812; Issue Date: 10 February 1999; Closing Date: 10 March
1999

Duty Station:  Brasilia, Brazil; Tenure: Two years, first
year probationary period; Division/Program/Office: Division
of Disease Prevention and Control (HCP), Communicable
Diseases Program (HCT)

Salary Information:  Basic Salary: $49,523 at single rate;
Post Adjustment: $26,792 at single rate; Hardship/Mobility:
$2,211 at single rate.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:  Education: A Ph.D. degree from a
recognized university in entomology and/or ecology with
specialized training in public health and/or vector-borne
diseases control.  Experience:  At national level:  Seven
years of experience with progressively greater
responsibilities in the performance of activities in the
areas of public health epidemiology and vector-borne
diseases control.  Must possess demonstrated capabilities in
the management of integrated vector control activities.  At
international level:  Two years of participation in
technical cooperation programs and activities involving the
provision of technical cooperation in public health and
vector-borne diseases control programs.  Languages: Very
good knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish with a working
knowledge of English.

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Post Title: Institutional Development Advisor; Level: P.4;
Post Number: .6136; Issue Date: 18 February 1999; Closing
Date: 1 April 1999

Duty Station: Washington, D.C.; Tenure:  Two years, first
year probationary period; Division/Program/Office: Office of
Analysis and Strategic Planning (DAP)

Salary Information: Basic Salary: $49,523 at single rate;
Post Adjustment: $9,607 at single rate

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Education:  A Bachelor's degree from a
recognized university in one of the health or social
sciences with a postgraduate degree to the Master's degree
level in public health, health administration or planning.
Experience:  At national level:  Seven years of experience
in preparing policy recommendations, analyzing institutional
development issues and adopting and implementing policy
alternatives. Experience should include responsibility for
health planning, project preparation and monitoring,
institutional management, and, negotiation and
implementation of technical cooperation.  At international
level:  Two years of participation in technical cooperation
programs and activities related to public health, policy
analysis, policy formulation and planning.  Languages:  Very
good knowledge of English or Spanish with a working
knowledge of the other.

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For more information, contact:  Pan American Health
Organization / World Health Organization; 525 Twenty-Third
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037 USA  Fax (202) 974-
3379; Telephone (202) 974-3396; Vacancy Hotline: (202) 974-
3333; http://www.paho.org

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This document is available, with full formatting and
accents, at http://www.csih.org/paho_ndx.html