Hospitals and health facilities need to remain functional during disasters. When hospitals are unable to fulfill their emergency function at the time when most needed, critical care is compromised and lives are lost needlessly.

However, health services are not only critical emergency centers; they play a vital role in recovery, social cohesion and economic stability.

Hospitals, primary health centres, and other health facilities have central role to achievement of sustainable recovery from disaster, and to health-driven development goals, taking key roles in:

•-ongoing health surveillance to prevent outbreaks

•-public health and sanitation campaigns, particularly preventive medicine

•-attracting health research and hosting reference laboratories, driving innovation

•-acting as focal points for -community organization.