The International Health Regulations (2005) states that the public health sector must be prepared to respond and to provide medical care to the injured.
WHO established the Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network (REMPAN) to promote preparedness for radiation emergencies and to advise health authorities in the event of overexposure of people to any source of radiation. The Network’s centres provide emergency medical assistance after radiation accidents and conduct technical training as a preparedness measure.
Through the Network, WHO also works to strengthen the response capabilities of international and national bodies during radionuclear emergencies, and formulates standards for food and water consumption immediately after radiation accidents.
WHO is a full party to the Conventions on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, for which the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the focal point. These Conventions provide the prime legal instruments that establish an international framework to facilitate exchange of information and the prompt provision of assistance in the event of radiation emergencies, with the aim of minimizing the health consequences
Radiation
Radiation is energy that travels in the form of waves or particles and is part of our everyday environment. People are exposed to radiation from cosmic rays, as well as to radioactive materials found in the soil, water, food, air and also inside the body.
Human-made radiation sources are widely used in medicine, industry, and research. There are two types of radiation: ionizing and non-ionizing radiation.
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