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WHO Strategy Hazards

This document outlines the health effects and priorities of responding to different types of hazards including epidemics, environmental pollution, storms, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, landslides, tsunamis, fires, explosions, accidents, droughts, famines, pests, plagues, infestations, wars, civil strife and economic crises. It discusses the immediate and long term impacts on public health from each hazard as well as the health priorities for response, recovery, rehabilitation, and reducing future hazard vulnerability and improving preparedness.

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50 views3 pages

WHO Strategy Hazards

This document outlines the health effects and priorities of responding to different types of hazards including epidemics, environmental pollution, storms, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, landslides, tsunamis, fires, explosions, accidents, droughts, famines, pests, plagues, infestations, wars, civil strife and economic crises. It discusses the immediate and long term impacts on public health from each hazard as well as the health priorities for response, recovery, rehabilitation, and reducing future hazard vulnerability and improving preparedness.

Uploaded by

Pinky
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Health Effects of Hazards

Hazard
epidemics;
environmental
pollution

Impact on Public Health


immediate increased risk of death, illness and disability;
risk of infection or contamination for relief personnel;
(long term) exposure of public to toxic substances;
overload of facilities and services;
rumours;
diversion of resources

storm;
earthquake;
volcano;
flood;
landslide;
tsunami;
fire;
explosion;
accidents

immediate increased risk of death, illness and disability;


possible environmental pollution;
(long term) exposure of public to toxic substances;
damage to or loss of essential life support services - water, food, shelter;
displacement of population;
breakdown in security;
breakdown in communications networks and information flows;
damage to and loss of facilities, services and staff;
high levels of psychosocial stress

drought;
famine;
pests;
plagues;
infestations

long term risk of increased morbidity and mortality;


breakdown in food security;
population displacement;
high levels of psychosocial stress;
exposure to toxic substances (chemical sprays)

war;
civil strife;
economic crisis

immediate increased risk of violent death and disability;


possible environmental pollution;
damage to or loss of essential life support services - water, food, shelter;
displacement of population;
breakdown in security;
breakdown in communications networks and information flows;
damage to and loss of facilities services and staff;
high levels of psychosocial stress

Health Priorities for Response


confirm the problem;
identify and confirm the cause;
issue guidelines, educate staff and mobilise resources;
case diagnosis, case confirmation, patient care, case treatment and referral;
activation of surveillance and monitoring systems to monitor caseload, case
fatality rates, morbidity and mortality;
prevent spread;
protect staff and facilities;
care of the dead;
public information, dealing with the media and international aid
search and rescue, triage, first aid, medical evacuation, hospital emergency care;
protect staff and facilities;
activate mass casualty management plans;
activation of surveillance and monitoring systems for injury, disease, nutritional
status, water quality and disability;
special services for the homeless and displaced - water, food, shelter, health,
security;
stress management;
care of the dead;
public information, dealing with the media and international aid
reinforcement of essential services;
activation of surveillance and monitoring systems for disease, nutritional status
and water quality;
special services for the homeless and displaced - water, food, shelter, health,
security;
stress management;
care of the dead;
public information, dealing with the media and international aid
immediate provision of essential services - shelter, water, food, etc.;
activation of surveillance and monitoring systems for injury, disease, nutritional
status, water quality and disability;
special services for the homeless and displaced - water, food, shelter, health,
security;
stress management;
care of the dead;
protect staff and facilities;
public information, dealing with the media and international aid

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Printed: 19/04/06

Health Effects of Hazards

Hazard
epidemics;
environmental
pollution

Recovery and Rehabilitation


health education, public awareness, public
information and community involvement;
documentation and analysis of the incident;
social services for the affected groups

storm;
earthquake;
volcano;
flood;
landslide;
tsunami;
fire;
explosion;
accidents

health education, public awareness, public


information and community involvement;
documentation and analysis of the incident;
social and counselling services for the affected groups - disabled, displaced;
infrastructure demolition, repair and replacement;
economic regeneration
health education, public awareness, public
information and community
involvement;
documentation and analysis of the
incident;
social and counselling services for the
affected groups - disabled, displaced;
economic regeneration

drought;
famine;
pests;
plagues;
infestations

war;
civil strife;
economic crisis

health education, public awareness, public


information and community involvement;
document and analyse the incident;
recruitment and training of new staff;
social and counselling services for the affected groups - disabled, displaced, demobilised;
infrastructure demolition, repair and replacement;
dealing with special hazards such as landmines and military ordinance;
economic regeneration

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Hazard/Vulnerability Reduction
environmental sanitation;
immunisation coverage;
disease and vector control;
staff awareness and staff training;
public awareness and public information;
public health;
transport, storage and use of toxic substances;
community participation
demography and land utilisation;
siting and construction of health and public sector infrastructure;
private sector involvement in public issues housing, infrastructure, environment;
public health and mental health issues;
disease and vector control;
staff awareness and staff training;
public awareness and public information

Preparedness/response capacity
legal mechanisms;
policies and procedures;
technical guidelines;
staff recruitment and training;
resource development and resource allocation;
planning processes and planning objectives;
buffer stocks and stockpiles;
early warning systems;
public health, mental health and hospital programme planning;
reporting systems;
public awareness and public information;
participation in regional bodies and international institutions;
role of international agencies in relief and development;
services for special groups such as the disabled, displaced;
inter-sectoral and sectoral co-ordination and managerial systems;
role of research and expert centres;

demography and land utilisation;


public health and mental health issues;
conflict resolution and community participation;
disease and vector control;
staff awareness and staff training;
public awareness and public information

planning for:
- reception/care of displaced people;
- first aid and triage;- emergency transport;
- hospitals and health centres;
- mass casualty management;
- hazardous substances;
- injury/disease/disability surveillance;
- medical supplies systems;
- blood banks and laboratories;

demography and land utilisation;


siting and construction of health sector infrastructure;
public health and mental health issues;
conflict resolution and community participation;
disease and vector control;
staff awareness and staff training;
public awareness and public information

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Health Effects of Hazards

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Used as a group exercise

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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