Disasters Flashcards
Define a “disaster”
A disruption of normal life and activities that requires the affected community to make extraordinary efforts to cope with it and usually requires outside help
Name the different types of disaster
Natural - acute or chronic onset
Man-made - Industrial, Transport Related, Deforestation
Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
Define a “fragile state”
A low income country characterised by a weak state capacity and weak state legitimacy leaving citizens vulnerable to a range of shocks
Define a “failed state”
A state characterised by political and economic failure with collapse of infrastructure and social norms
Define “risk”
The probability that an action will lead to an undesirable outcome
What are risks a product of?
Hazards and vulnerability
What is a hazard?
A damaging thing that could occur and the probability with which it could occur
What is vulnerability?
The likelihood that the population will be affected by and unable to cope with the event
Give 3 types of study used for outbreak investigations
Cohort study, case control study and descriptive study
Name the major components of the initial assessment
Methods, content, sources of information
Provide some sources of information prior to deployment
CIA world factbook, WHO
Embassies
Libraries
Give some existing assessment systems
MIRA, HESPER
Name some types of surveillance systems
Comprehensive, sentinel, laboratory based, clinical (symptom based)
What are the phases of a disaster?
Emergency and post emergency phase
Name some epidemiological key indicators
CMR, CFR, Age specific, Maternal, <5YMR Morbidity Incidence, Attack rate, Incidence rate Prevalence Nutritional status Health services Vital needs
What are the characteristics of a post conflict society?
Declining economic and political structures
Decentralised states with power associated with armed groups
Needs external help
Methods for initial assessment
Objectives, Preparation, Information sought, Obtaining information, Validity & Bias, Personnel,
Deployment, Reporting
What are the objectives of the initial assessment?
Whether or not to intervene?
Define priorities
Plan
Communicate to refugees, international community and donors
Content of the initial assessment
Geopolitical context
Description of the population
Characteristics of the environment in which refugees have settled
Major health problems
Requirements in terms of human and material resource
Operating partners
How would you collect information before deployment?
On line (IRINS, CIA World Factbook, WHO website etc). Embassy/consulate of affected country(s) Libraries (Universities, medical schools etc)
How would you collect information in the field?
Host government Medical services in affected country Local authorities WHO & Other UN agencies Aid agencies in the field Affected communities Use of aerial photographs Interviews Direct observation Sample surveys
What are some systems for communicable disease control?
Disease surveillance systems (EWARN)
Public health systems
What health services and support infrastructures are required?
Laboratory services clinical and public health laboratory facilities
Medical material (medications in use/licensed, availability, supply chain, storage)
Blood banking
Vaccination programmes
Cold chain arrangements
What is public health intelligence?
Public health intelligence is involved with gathering and analysing information about the determinants of health, the causes of ill health and the patterns and trends of health and ill health in a population to support decision-making to improve the health of the population.
