Operational manual on noncommunicable diseases in all-hazards emergency preparedness and response

Overview

In line with the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Response Framework (ERF) (1) – WHO’s policy document on how the organization manages emergency health response actions in support of Member States and affected communities – this manual provides technical guidance and tools for emergency managers, implementers and policy-makers tasked with emergency response and preparedness, with the aim of ensuring that noncommunicable diseases (NCD) interventions are included in all-hazards national health emergency plans and responses. This is based on the key concept that NCD services should be a core component of primary health care, with provisions for access to secondary care when needed (for example, dialysis, cancer, acute and chronic complications), and that people living with NCDs (PLWNCDs) in emergencies and those at high risk of developing NCDs should continue to have access to care, including primary and secondary prevention activities.