Introduction

The Greater Derry Public Health Network (PHN) coordinates public health emergency preparedness activities in the Greater Derry Public Health Region (PHR).

A multi-jurisdiction, multi-discipline planning advisory group meets bi-monthly to develop, review, and update the regional Public Health Emergency Response (PHER) Annex. The PHER Annex establishes the framework for regional response to a public health emergency.

The Greater Derry PHN also supports community health education through events and forums.

Service Area

The Greater Derry PHR includes the towns of Atkinson, Chester, Danville, Derry, Hampstead, Londonderry, Plaistow, Salem, Sandown and Windham.

Priorities for Action

Public Health Emergency Planning
IN THE NEWS

Recent developments at the Area Health & Safety Council and Donna Tighe of Greater Derrry Community Health Services are featured in the Summer 2005 edition of "Transformations in Public Health", a publication of Turning Point.
Read more »The purpose of the PHER Annex is to detail actions to plan for, respond to, and recover from a public health emergency that impacts communities in the Greater Derry PHR. The PHER Annex establishes the framework for regional coordination of the emergency public health resources and information.

Examples where regional coordination is needed during a public health emergency include:

• Management and distribution of medical supplies;
• Mass vaccination or medication dispensing operations;
• Supportive care for isolation and quarantine measures during an infectious disease event;
• Mass care operations for people receiving medical care outside of a healthcare facility; and
• Coordination of public information and warnings.

Volunteer Recruitment
Greater Derry PHN coordinates efforts to recruit, train, and deploy a volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) during public health emergencies. The MRC supports local emergency responders to provide emergency public health services in the region. The MRC also supports community health programs throughout the region. MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals such as physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and others. Non-medical volunteers are also welcomed to assist with greeting, registration, and logistics activities.

For more information about the Greater Derry MRC, please e-mail Jennifer Neary or call 603.845.5519.