PUBLIC HEALTH

PREPAREDNESS FOR
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
April 27, 2015.

DR. KATTEY KATTEY A.

(mbbs, mph, Cert. MCH)

OUTLINE

Introduction
Definition of terms
Classification and Impact of disasters
Disaster Management
Public Health Preparedness
Agencies Involved In Disaster Management
Conclusion
KATTEY K.A (MPH, MBBS)

Introduction
Disasters are of global interest because they cause a
lot of suffering and damage to human populations and
the environment.
The 21st century has witnessed several disasters,
which have killed and displaced hundreds of
thousands of people.
About 1.2 million people were killed by disasters
between 2000-2012; estimated damage worth 1.7
trillion USD.

Introduction

The impact of disasters on public health is

tremendous.
Since disasters cannot be avoided or easily
reduced, the best approach is to prepare
adequately for them.
The aim of preparedness programmes is mainly
to minimize the adverse effects of a hazard.

DEFINITION OF TERMS
A disaster can be defined as an occurrence either natural or
manmade that causes human suffering and creates human
needs that victims cannot alleviate without assistance. BY American Red Cross (ARC)

A disaster can be defined as : Any occurrence that causes

damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life or
deterioration of health and health services on a scale
sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from
outside the affected community or area. BY - World Health
Organisation (WHO)

DEFINITION OF TERMS
HAZARD- A natural or man-made event that threatens to
adversely affect human life, property or activity to the extent
of causing a disaster.

Practically speaking, disasters can be regarded as the effect

of the interaction between a hazard and vulnerability.

DEFINITION OF TERMS
VULNERABILITY - The predisposition to suffer damage due
to external factors e.g. rapid population growth, urban
squatters, precarious food security, environmental
degradation, refugees , displaced persons and personal
exposure.
It is the propensity of things to be damaged by a hazard

DEFINITION OF TERMS
RISK is the probability that a person will experience an event
in a specified period of time.

It is the product of hazard and vulnerability.

Risk = hazard x vulnerability.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

The conceptual framework of elements
considered with the possibilities to minimize
vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a
society, to avoid or to limit the adverse impacts
of hazards.

CLASSIFICATION OF DISASTERS
These can be done based on:

Speed of onset (sudden or slow onset)

Origin/Cause (natural or man-made)
Scope (minor, major, catastrophic)

CLASSIFICATION
BASED ON SPEED OF ONSET
SUDDEN ONSET
Natural (earthquakes, volcanic eruption, hurricane,
typhoon, tsunamis, tropical storms, land slides, bushfire)
Natural & man-made (e.g. fire, landslide)
Man-made (toxic waste, wars, oil spillage, transport
accidents, technological and industrial accidents)

SLOW ONSET
Natural (drought, desertification, famine and flood)
Man-made (war, civil strife, environmental pollution and
economic crisis)

CLASSIFICATION based on the cause

1. NATURAL DISASTERS occur as the result of action of the
natural forces and tend to be accepted as unfortunate, but
inevitable.
. They result from forces of climate and geology.
. Examples hurricanes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, land slides, mud slides, famine, drought, pests,
floods, tsunamis, tropical storms, tornadoes

CLASSIFICATION based on the cause

2. MAN-MADE (or technological) disasters are the threats
having an element of human intent, negligence, or error; or
involving a failure of a human-made system from some human
activities.
Examples include explosions, fires, the release of toxic
chemicals or radioactive materials, bridge or building collapse,
crashes, dam or levee failure, nuclear reactor accidents,
breaks in water, gas, deforestation, war etc.
Also includes disease epidemics, CBRN disasters and
aviation disasters.

CLASSIFICATION based on the scope

1. Minor Disaster: Any disaster that is within the response
capabilities of the Local Government and results in only
minimal need for State and Federal assistance.
2. Major Disaster: Any disaster that will likely exceed local
capabilities and require a broad range of State and Federal
assistance.
3. Catastrophic Disaster: disaster that will require massive
State and Federal assistance, including immediate military
involvement.

Recent disasters in Nigeria

Oil spillage (Niger Delta)
Aviation disasters
Inter-community conflicts (border disputes, ?
political, ?religious)
Floods (Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa etc)
Bomb explosions (Boko Haram)
Building collapse
Immigration employment exercise stampede

Flooding in Nigeria

Photo credit: Bella Naija, Nairaland

Photo credit: WACP 2014 Part 1 Update course

More Recently
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Kathmundu, Nepal on
Saturday, 25th April 2015.
Triggered multiple avalanches on Mt. Everest and several
aftershocks in Nepal, parts of Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and
Tibet.
Official figures 2 days later show 4,000 people have died and
about 7,000 people injured
Most devastating quake in Nepal since 1934.

FACTORS AFFECTING
DISASTER

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL TRIAD
Credit: University of Minnesota Center for Public Health Preparedness

FACTORS AFFECTING
DISASTER
Host
factors

Environme
ntal
factors

Age
Immunization status
Degree of mobility
Emotional stability

Physical Factors
Chemical Factors
Biological Factors
Social Factors
Psychological
Factors

Agent factors

HAZARD
Predictability
Speed of onset
Length of forewarning
Scope and Intensity of
impact
Duration of impact
Time of occurrence

Disaster
=
Hazard
+
Vulnerability

Relationship of vulnerability, hazard and disaster

Source: WHO/EHA, 2002

Credit: United Nations Office for Disaster Reduction

Effects of Disasters
Disasters result in losses or deprivation of:
Life
Health (temporary or permanent)
Social welfare services
Environmental integrity
Socioeconomic or developmental advances
Dislocation & displacement
Injuries e.g. burns, fractures

Effects of Disasters
Risk of communicable diseases
Mental Health effects
- Post disaster syndrome
-Anxiety, depression, hysteria, neurosis etc.
Lack of shelter resulting in exposure to heat &
cold
Poverty
Social frustration

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Disaster management is the body of policies,
administrative decisions and operational activities
which pertain to various stages of a disaster.

It is essentially an inter-sectoral activity and the

contribution of all sectors are crucial for its total
success.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Reduced (or total avoidance of, if possible)
potential losses from hazards
Assurance of prompt and appropriate
assistance to victims when necessary
Achievement of a rapid and durable recovery.

PHASES OF DISASTER
Preimpact
phase
Impact
phase
Postimpact
phase

Phases of Management :
Disaster Response
Disaster Rehabilitation
Disaster Reconstruction

Disaster Mitigation
Disaster Preparedness

Recovery phase
after disaster

Risk reduction
phase before a
disaster

DISASTER- MANAGEMENT CYCLE

Disaster

Emergency
(Alertness + Defense)

Response/ Relief

Preparedness
Mitigation/
Prevention

Rehabilitation
Reconstruction

Pre-disaster: risk reduction

Post-disaster recovery

Fundamental Aspects of Disaster Mgt.

Mitigation relates to those activities directed at eliminating or
reducing the degree of long-term risk to human life and property
from hazards
Preparedness refers to activities undertaken in advance of an
emergency or disaster to develop operational and logistic
capabilities and to facilitate an effective response should an
emergency management event occur.
Response refers what the government and other organizations
do immediately before, during, and after a disaster or terror
event occurs.

COMPONENTS OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Policy formulation (government commitment)

Vulnerability assessment (risk or hazard
analysis)
Emergency prevention and mitigation
Emergency preparedness

1. Policy formulation
Existence of a Policy document (with constitutional
backing)
Existence of an Enforcement agency e.g. NEMA
Availability of favourable conditions to operate e.g.
defined organizational structure, adequate funds,
appropriate equipment, etc.

2. Vulnerability assessment (risk or

hazard analysis)

the probability of death;

the probability of injury
(mental and physical);
the probability of disease
(mental and physical);
the probability of
secondary hazards (fire,
disease etc.)
the probability of
displacement;

the probability of loss of

property;
the probability of loss of
income;
the probability of
breakdown in security;
the probability of damage
to infrastructure;
the probability of
breakdown in essential
services.

3. Emergency prevention and mitigation

Prevent populations from habiting disasterprone areas
Cautionary messages mounted in disasterprone areas
Construction of structures to withstand disaster
Evacuation of populations e.g. for disasters
with known periodicity
Improved intelligence & security

3. Emergency prevention and

mitigation contd
Improved infrastructure (roads)
Aviation safety (airports runways &
telecommunication)
Promote peaceful co-existence
Political stability
Address marginalization
Energy provision
Poverty alleviation

4. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Emergency preparedness is a programme of long
term development activities whose goals are to
strengthen the overall capacity and capability of a
country to manage efficiently all types of emergency.
The objective is to ensure that appropriate systems,
procedure and resources are in place to provide
prompt effective assistance to disaster victims, thus
facilitating relief measures and rehabilitation of
services.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CONTD

Emergency plans:
(i) to prevent or reduce mass casualty among
the population at risk;
(ii) for initial health services (i.e. pre-hospital
emergency care) for rescued victims; and
(iii) for disposal of dead bodies
(iv) deal with post-emergency problem

i. Preventing or reducing mass

casualty
Training and education of the public:
(i) Community awareness of the hazards
(ii) Community awareness of appropriate actions
for different types of emergencies; and
(iii)the community is empowered to participate in
developing emergency management strategies.

ii. Organisation of initial health services

(pre-hospital emergency care)

Search and rescue

First aid, triage and field care.
Tagging

Emergency Plans Contd

iii. Recovery and disposal of dead bodies

Collaboration between public & private morgues

Identify and tag corpses
Issue death certificate
Mass burial for unclaimed corpses

iv. Dealing with post-emergency problems

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Entails taking measures that ensure the
organized mobilization of personnel, funds,
equipment and supplies with a safe
environment for an effective relief.
These measures are policy, administrative
decisions, and operational activities which
pertain to various stages of a disaster at all
levels

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Plans for these programmes are drawn up, usually
during the non/inter-disaster period.
A large component of the plans are also implemented
during the non- disaster phase either as precautionary
activities or in anticipation of a disaster.

Focus for Disaster Preparedness

1. Manpower resources:
community education and training
enhanced with drills or trial runs of activities

2. Material resources:
Mobilization of needed supplies
identification of sources of certain supplies for
use during the emergency phase.

Focus for Disaster Preparedness

3. Mobilization of funds

4. Management of the environment:

Policy guidelines and administrative procedures

Framework For Disaster Preparedness

Programmes
1. Planning
2. Hazard and vulnerability assessment
3. Information system

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Resource base
Early warning system
Public information, education and training
Rehearsals and drills
Response mechanisms

PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS

Public health interventions and specific disease
control measures are a priority for reducing morbidity
and mortality in disaster affected communities.
These include provision of:

Water
Housing
Sanitation
Vector control
Vaccination
Treatment services

Issues Limiting Prompt response to

Disasters

Poor telecommunications, poor or surveillance

dallying in reporting
poor electricity supply.
Limited capacity to detect problems early
Lack of training of health personnel on syndromic
recognition of frequently occurring epidemics such
as cholera and CSM.
Lack of adequate transportation
Denial (of dx outbreak/epidemic) b/c of stigmas
No skilled manpower
Lack of stationery

AGENCIES INVOLVED IN DISASTER MGT.

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has the
primary responsibility of coordinating the National Disaster
Response Framework in Nigeria.
NEMA established in March 1999 to manage disasters in
Nigeria.

Prior to NEMA, National Emergency Relief Agency Committee

(NERAC) was established in 1976.

International Organizations

International Organizations:

IDDR
In December, 1989, the UN General Assembly designated the
second Wednesday of October as the International Day for
Natural Disaster Reduction.
Now celebrated on 13th October annually since after 2009.
Days name changed to IDDR.

CONCLUSION
A disaster is any occurrence that causes damage, ecological
disruption, loss of human life or deterioration of health and
health services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary
response from outside the affected community or area.
They can be natural or man-made.
The impact of disasters are tremendous ranging from
destruction of lives and property and often leads to
displacement of victims with its associated effects on public
health and social life.

KATTEY K.A (MPH, MBBS)

Conclusion (Contd)
Preparedness programs are put in place to enhance a prompt
and effective reaction in the event of an emergency.
This helps in minimizing the effects of a disaster.

You dont learn how to

swim in the storm

KATTEY K.A (MPH, MBBS)

BIBIOGRAPHY
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies, Geneva
World Health Organization. Community Emergency
Preparedness: a manual for managers and policy
makers. WHO, 1999.
World Health Organization. "Coping with major
emergencies." WHO strategies and approaches to
humanitarian action, 1995.
http://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/disaster-statistics (Retrieved
April 21, 2015).
WHO. (2002). Environmental Health in emergencies and
disasters: A practical guide
Ordinioha, B. 2006. Principles and Practice of
Environmental Health in Nigeria. Port Harcourt. Health
Forum.
KATTEY K.A (MPH, MBBS)
http://

Bibliography (Contd)

Park, K. (2007). Textbook of Preventive and Social

Medicine. Jabalpur: Bhanot
Hogan, E., & Burstein, L. (2002). Disaster Medicine.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Schneid T, C. L. (2000). Disaster Management and
Preparedness. CRC Press.
Kevin M, C. M. (2003). Emergency Relief Operations.
USA: The Center for International Health and
Cooperation.
Babatunde L. et al. (2013). The Role of Government
and Professionals in Disaster Management in Nigeria.
J. of Environmental Sciences and Resource
Management, 147-155.
http://www.gdrc.org/uem/disasters/1-dm_cycle.html
(Retrieved April 19, 2015
KATTEY K.A (MPH, April
MBBS)
http://www.nema.gov.ng/index.htm (Retrieved

KATTEY K.A (MPH, MBBS)