Health Aspect of Disaster Risk Assessment Dr AA Abubakar Department of Community Medicine Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Nigeria

Disaster risk reduction as a developmental function Disaster reduction is a developmental issue as: –Underlying causes of poverty, unsustainable development & disaster are related. Both can cause or increase vulnerability of people –Disasters can put development at risk –Development can cause or reduce disaster risk

Disaster risk assessment Definition: Process of collecting & analyzing information about the nature, likelihood and severity of disaster risks

Phases in Risk Assessment Problem identification Research & Analysis Decision making –Risk evaluation: evaluating & selecting models to adopt –Risk characterization: Technical accuracy of the analysis –Risk communication: Constant exchange among stakeholders with the intention of bringing congruence between actual, perceived & estimated risks

Uses of Disaster risk assessment Makes risk responsive to physical & economic policy Provides a regulatory framework for development Promotes participatory development through public education & awareness Promotes risk sharing & transfer of interventions

Limitations of Disaster Risk reduction Inadequate assessment due to insufficient data or resources Difficulty in attributing responsibility for disaster risks coming from different locations & sources Assessment outcomes may not be politically acceptable

Key thematic areas in integrating disaster risk assessment in development sectors Poverty reduction Agriculture & rural development Environmental management Health issues Water resource management Land use planning Infrastructure Gender issues Climate change adaptation Inter related

Health issues Disaster & health reflect complex interaction of climatic, vector specific, political, demographic & development based factors All other thematic areas directly or indirectly affect health Risk characteristics of various epidemic diseases differ but some generic issues of risk reduction can be applied to various disease situations

Measures to mainstream disaster reduction activities in health Adopting a multi-hazard approach to disaster risk management that includes epidemics & other biological hazards Re-orienting the current focus on post-epidemic response towards prevention in managing health effects of disasters Integrating health concerns in hazard control measures such as health implications of large open flood control water channels Developing strategies for epidemic preparedness and emergency action

Measures to mainstream disaster reduction activities in health 2 Developing integrated monitoring systems that include early detection of epidemics based on epidemiological data, early warning systems based on meteorological data and long-range forecasting Integrating health information collection & monitoring in general vulnerability information systems such as environmental information systems Monitoring & addressing long term factors of vulnerability to epidemics such as health care entitlement, immunity status, nutrition level, sexual behavior, population movement & status of routine control measures.

Guiding checklist for integrating disaster risk reduction in health Current incidence & prevalence of the disease Reason why the disease is a disaster risk problem Population & locations at risk of the disease Severity of the disease burden on affected populations How natural hazards contribute to the disease burden Factors that have the potential to increase the incidence and public health impact of infectious disease threats

Guiding checklist for integrating disaster risk reduction in health 2 Does monitoring of the disease include early detection, seasonal transmission risk and long term vulnerability factors? Routine monitoring of risk assessment & surveillance indicators Integration of health, hazard indicators, socioeconomic changes & other factors of vulnerability in disease risk models Cross border risks covered by health risk assessment Transmission dynamics of the disease

Guiding checklist for integrating disaster risk reduction in health 3 Vulnerability of the population to transmission potential from variations in exposure or coping ability Expected outcome of the epidemic transmission potential in relation to the vulnerability of the population Level of awareness of the risks of epidemics at local & national levels Ability of public health units & health facilities to provide emergency services during disasters –Vulnerability of these services to disasters

Guiding checklist for integrating disaster risk reduction in health 4 Availability of policies & programmes to tackle health issues during disasters Effectiveness of activities & measures that individuals, communities & institutions take to reduce the burden of the disease Does the prevention & control of the disease burden cover the use of multiple mitigation measures

Guiding checklist for integrating disaster risk reduction in health 5 Extent of the use of evidence-based policies & strategies to prevent, control & eliminate epidemic diseases Availability of training programmes and information systems to enhance the capacity of individuals, communities & institutions to reduce the risk of epidemic disasters Use of local & traditional knowledge and experience to guide interventions aimed at reducing risk of epidemic diseases