On 29 November 2024, the WHO Kobe Centre (WKC) hosted the WKC Forum as part of the 8th International Research Conference of the World Society of Disaster Nursing (WSDN 2024). The forum, titled "Advancing Health and Resilience for Emergencies and Disasters: Interdisciplinary Collaboration Towards 2030 and Beyond," served as a vibrant platform for experts from diverse fields to address the growing challenges of health emergencies and disasters.
The event, held at JICA Kansai in Hyogo, Japan, attracted 132 participants, including 72 attending in person and 47 online, along with 13 speakers. This strong turnout reflected the forum's relevance to a wide audience of professionals from fields such as disaster nursing, public health, and disaster risk management.
A Platform for Progress
The forum opened with remarks from Dr Sarah Louise Barber, Director of the WHO Kobe Centre, who emphasized the significance of global partnerships in advancing disaster preparedness. She highlighted the need for integrating health and disaster risk management into everyday practices to build stronger, more resilient systems.
Dr Ryoma Kayano, a technical officer at WKC and moderator of the forum, added depth to the discussions with his insights during the panel session. Reflecting on the broader objectives of the forum, he stated, "The greatest takeaway from this forum is that interdisciplinary collaboration is not merely an approach but the cornerstone of success in addressing health emergencies. By uniting expertise across health, technology, and disaster management, we can transform our systems to become proactive, adaptive, and resilient, ready to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world."
The panel discussion, which explored the future of disaster nursing beyond 2030, underscored the importance of leveraging local knowledge and global frameworks. Experts debated the integration of innovative technologies, such as smart city solutions, into health system resilience while maintaining the human-centered approach central to disaster nursing.
A Vision for the Future
The forum concluded with a shared commitment to transforming the lessons learned into practical solutions. Participants emphasized the need for stronger collaborations and capacity-building initiatives to enhance community resilience and health system preparedness.
Dr Kayano summarized the forum’s impact, saying, “This event has shown that when diverse voices come together, we not only exchange ideas but also create actionable pathways towards a safer, healthier future. The road to 2030 and beyond demands this level of interdisciplinary engagement.”
A Catalyst for Change
The WKC Forum 2024 reinforced the WHO Kobe Centre’s dedication to advancing Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health EDRM), as part of its 2018–2026 Research Plan. By promoting collaboration and innovation, the forum set a clear agenda for addressing the increasingly complex challenges of health emergencies, leaving a lasting impact on all those involved.