title: Responding to the health and rehabilitation needs of people with disabilities post-Haiyan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is estimated that 15% of the world's population has a disability, and disasters increase their risk and vulnerability. Rehabilitation services were limited in the area of the Philippines that was affected by Typhoon Haiyan. This study describes the initial rehabilitation needs assessment and activities to increase rehabilitation services conducted in Leyte province of Region 8 after Haiyan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A rehabilitation needs assessment for people with disabilities and injuries needing physical and functional rehabilitation care and assistive devices was conducted in health facilities, evacuation centres and selected municipalities in Leyte province between 9 November 2013 and 30 April 2014 by a consortium of agencies. Improvements to service delivery and referrals were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rehabilitation services were reduced immediately after Haiyan, but they increased in the following months and peaked four months after Haiyan. There were 2998 individuals needing medicine and rehabilitation management, functional care and assistive devices. These included persons with pre-existing disabilities whose situations had worsened and people who had sustained injuries in the typhoon. Additional improvements included rehabilitation services with provision of assistive devices at the regional hospital, development of a directory of disability services in the region and advocacy through community-based rehabilitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Information services and community knowledge for people with disabilities improved in Region 8 after Typhoon Haiyan, demonstrating that strengthening rehabilitation systems is a realistic goal after disasters.
authors.affiliation: Office of the WHO Representative in the Philippines, Sta Cruz, Manila, Philippines .
authors.forename: Mylene Rose
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Benigno
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, Philippines .
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kleinitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines .
authors.forename: Liezel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calina
authors.affiliation: Office of the WHO Representative in the Philippines, Sta Cruz, Manila, Philippines .
authors.forename: Ma Rowena
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Alcido
authors.affiliation: Handicap International, Avenue des Frères Lumières, Lyon, France .
authors.forename: Bérengère
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gohy
authors.affiliation: Office of the WHO Representative in the Philippines, Sta Cruz, Manila, Philippines .
authors.forename: Julie Lyn
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004190:Disasters; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010679:Philippines; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D012066:Relief Work / Q000458:organization & administration; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation