Emergency Preparedness

In addition to public health risks posed by communicable diseases, human health may also be put at risk by other events such as extreme weather, human and/or technology-influenced incidents and disasters. Public health emergency preparedness requires planning and intervention activities to prevent, respond to and recover from incidents and emergencies that may put the health of Ontarians at risk.

We provide scientific and technical advice in preparation for and response to public health emergencies. We work with the MOHLTC and public health units to enhance preparedness and resilience in the health sector through emergency planning, capacity-building and evidence-based emergency preparedness education and research.

According to the World Health Organization’s document, A Strategic Framework for Emergency Preparedness, emergency preparedness is defined as:

“The knowledge and capacities and organizational systems developed by governments, response and recovery organizations, communities and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from the impacts of likely, imminent, emerging, or current emergencies.”

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Health Protection

healthprotection@oahpp.ca

Updated 9 Jan 2020