Cuba's "Culture of Preparedness"

Dr. Guillermo Mesa speaks from experience as Director of the Latin American Center for Disaster Medicine (CLAMED) on what we can learn from Cuba’s disaster management strategies and their results.  He will explain how, with limited economic resources, Cuba’s “culture of preparedness” defines disaster mitigation efforts, putting public education and participation at the forefront. Key practices include a universal school curriculum that prepares students and generates disaster awareness, as well as yearly nationwide training sessions before hurricane season to keep professionals updated on new risks and response plans. Because CLAMED organizes responses to all major disasters—from hurricanes to fires and earthquakes—it maintains close relations with meteorologists, seismologists, civil defense and public health officials in Cuba, the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as in countries where Cuban health professionals have served in disaster response. Dr. Mesa will report results of Cuban disaster management and identify ways that US health and other agencies might partner with Cuba, exchanging information and preparedness strategies to more effectively protect people’s lives and property—especially in the shared hurricane corridor of the Gulf region.