Building Human Resilience -Role of Individual and Community

Climate change and extreme weather events Global climate change will increase the probability of extreme weather events which may be associated with a. High precipitation i.e. Storms floods and land slides slides b. Low precipitation i.e. heat, drought, wild b. Low precipitation i.e. heat, drought, wild The relative public health impact of the six The relative public health impact of the six natural disasters expected to worsen with natural disasters expected to worsen with climate change climate change

Storms and floods –Loss of clean water, shelter, personal and household goods, sanitation, routine hygiene distortion of solid waste management increased pests and vectors, loss and /or damage of health care system, worsening of existing chronic illnesses possible toxic exposures to air, water, food.

UN intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) Millions of people are projected to be flooded every year due to sea-level rise by 2080s. By 2020 between 75 to 250 million are projected to be exposed to an increase in water stress. The public health impact of extreme weather events: More people are affected Economic losses Between 1970 and % of the fatalities are due to climate related events Affected determinants of population health such as education, health care etc.

Building Human Resilience as adaptation to climate change UN and WHO define a disaster as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.

Contd… Contd… For any given hazard disaster risk varies according to population’s vulnerability eg. age, gender, health status SES etc. Disaster risk management Now it is shifted from post–impact activities to a more systematic and comprehensive risk management process. As per disaster experts Lisa schipper and Mark Pelling.

Contd… Disaster risk management includes Pre-impact disaster risk reduction – prevention, preparedness and mitigation Pre-impact disaster risk reduction – prevention, preparedness and mitigation Response and recovery post impact crisis management activities. Response and recovery post impact crisis management activities. Preparedness is an activity and measures taken in advance to ensure effective response to the impact of hazards.

Contd… Mitigation is the structural and non-structural measures undertaken to limit the adverse impact of natural hazards, environmental degradation and technologic hazards. Mitigation Preparedness Response Risk –reduction measures are Delivered pre-impact Most cost effective Community based Sustainable Recovery Prevention Disaster risk management cycle Crisis-management measures are Delivered post-impact Least cost effective Nationally and internationally based Nonsustainable

Contd… Human resilience as a means for vulnerability Reduction Vulnerability to natural disasters has two side 1. The degree of exposure to dangerous hazards (Susceptibility) (Susceptibility) 2. The capacity to cope with or recover from the 2. The capacity to cope with or recover from the consequences of disasters (Resilience) consequences of disasters (Resilience)

Contd….  Vulnerability reduction programs reduce susceptibility and increase resilience  Susceptibility to disasters decreases through activities such as prevention and mitigation activities such as prevention and mitigation  Resilience is increased by preparedness response and recovery activities and recovery activities Resilience has two components * Provided by nature * Provided by nature * Provided through human action.

Contd…. Disaster resilience is composed of * The absorbing capacity * The buffering capacity * Response to the event and recovery from the damage sustained. damage sustained. Building resilience to extreme weather events through public health preparedness and response.  By promoting safety and health –to reduce the pre- existing burden of disease, build social capital, and strengthen community resilience  Promotion of healthy people, healthy homes and healthy communities.

Resilience –building strategies for extreme weather events related to climate change Drought The public health impact of drought disasters: Drought is usually designed as a period of abnormally dry weather that is sufficiently prolonged so that the lack of water causes a serious hydrologic imbalance in the affected area.

Contd… Causes of death due to drought. Dehydration, Agricultural Economic and health effects like famine, mal nutrition povety, poor public health practices. Contamination of existing water supplies heat related illness. Infectious diseases and social strife. Dehydration, Agricultural Economic and health effects like famine, mal nutrition povety, poor public health practices. Contamination of existing water supplies heat related illness. Infectious diseases and social strife. Psychosocial impact-decreased quality of life major changes in lifestyle and increasing conflict over water resources. Psychosocial impact-decreased quality of life major changes in lifestyle and increasing conflict over water resources.

Contd… Preparing for drought –related public health Emergencies:  Risk assessment focusing on critical health needs such as food, security, water, sanitation, shelter, and psychosocial political and economic impact of the drought.  Accurate short and long term forecasting and early warning.  Public education about locally relevant water use health risks and behaviours.  Epidemiologic investigation and disease surveillance.

Responding to drought –related public health emergencies Food security Food security Safe water and adequate sanitation Safe water and adequate sanitation Hygiene Hygiene Infection control in health care settings Infection control in health care settings Surveillance Surveillance Temporary shelter for displaced populations Temporary shelter for displaced populations

Contd… Wild fire The public health impact of wild fire disasters: Wild fire is defined as a sweeping and destructive conflagration, especially in a wilderness or a rural area.  Burn injuries  Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma  Population displacement Preparing for wild fire related public health emergencies  Fire hazard evaluation  Emergency plans and exercises on contingencies for population evacuation and for mass care and shelter  Public education on risk of wildfire and protective steps to take i.e. evacuation and shelter

 Rapid needs assessment to identify gaps among health, medical needs and available resources  Shelter and resettlement decisions.  Health care delivery in inspections of food, in air safety and water quality  Assessment of sanitation and hygiene in mass care shelters. Responding to wild fire –related public health emergencies:

Contd….  Hazard risk analysis or to promote the occupational health and safety of responders if wildfire threatens manufactured hazardous materials  Health –related public information campaigns to encourage family based preparedness, inform vulnerable populations and promote evacuation preparedness.

Floods The public health impact of floods Floods are defined as the overflow of areas that are not normally submerged with water or a stream that has broken its normal confines or has accumulated due to lack of drainage. Causes By natural process like Fluvial –like heavy rainfall melting snow Coastal like hurricane

Contd… Public health impacts  Damage to homes and consequent displacement of occupants  Compromised personal hygiene  Contamination of water sources  Disruption of sewage service and solid –waste collection  Injuries sustained during clean up  Stress-related mental health and substance abuse problems  Deaths mostly caused by drowning

Preparing for public health emergencies caused by flood  Meteorological forecasting and early warning  Planning addressing precautionary flood-related health issues like shelter loss. Sanitation, hygiene and health care among affected populations, exacerbations of chronic diseases toxic exposures mental illness, family violence and loss of health care services.  Drills and exercises on population protection alert / notification systems for public health and medical staff and notification systems for public health and medical staff and for special populations. for special populations.

Contd…  Public health communications on preparedness in the home, in schools, in the work place and at health care facilities  Health communications to raise public awareness ofevacuation routes, flood zones and community responseplans.  Development of robust public health surveillance systems for needs assessment and survey flood related mortality and morbidity

Responding to flood-related public emergencies  Perverting potential spread of infections disease by flood waters  Basic rules of hygiene and sanitation  Preventing vector breeding and vectorborne diseases  Community –based primary care for miner soft tissue injuries  evacuation of special populations eg. hospital, Schools prisons etc.

Tropical cyclones Public health impact Tropical cyclones are low-pressure weather systems that develop over the warm waters of the oceans.  Mortality due to drowning  Morbidity due to injury  Animal and insect bites  Exacerbation of chronic diseases like asthma, COPD.  Water borne and vector borne diseases  Behavioral health effects.

Preparing for public health emergencies Weather monitoring and forecasting Weather monitoring and forecasting Evacuation of at-risk population Evacuation of at-risk population Provision of adequate shelter, food, water, sanitation, and health care. Provision of adequate shelter, food, water, sanitation, and health care. Public education to create awareness on evacuation routes etc. Public education to create awareness on evacuation routes etc. Equipment like power generators to maintain health and medical infrastructure. Equipment like power generators to maintain health and medical infrastructure.

Responding to public health emergencies like cyclones. Evaluate the need for medical and health services for displaced & resettled population. Health information systems and public surveillance data to monitor health and safety of the affected population and relief and recovery works. Clinical care for injuries, asthma etc., Vector control, immunization etc., Social support. Use of personal protection equipment by disaster recovery workers.

Land slides (Debris flows) The Public health impact Land slides includes all types of gravity induced ground movements, ranging from rock falls through slides/slumps, avalanche and flows, triggered mainly by precipitation (including snowmelt), Seismic activity and Volcanic eruptions.

Impact of Land slides Traumatic injury Mortality due to injury and asphyxiation Morbidity due to injuries, wound infection disruption of water, sanitation and shelter and locally grown food supply Mycosis infestation due to release of Anthrospores

Preparing For Public Health Emergencies Caused By Land Slides Rainfall monitoring & warning Evacuation of population Public health information campaigns to communicate risk and protective behaviors. Education on hazard awareness, mitigation preparedness and response measures

Contd… Promotion of safe and healthy community After land slides, - Life saving search and rescue efforts - First aid for immediate, life threatening - First aid for immediate, life threatening traumatic injuries. traumatic injuries. - Occupational health and safety - Basic needs focus - Delivery of medical and health services in the event of population displacement in the event of population displacement

Individual and community role  Plant trees wherever you can and more importantly take care of them. They reduce air pollution  Reduce the use of wood and paper products wherever possible  Reuse as many envelopes as you can  Do not buy furniture, doors or window frames made from tropical hardwoods.

 Use pesticides only when absolutely necessary and use them in small amounts.  Advocate organic farming  Reduce the use of fossil fuels  Buy consumer goods that last.  Try to avoid asking for plastic carry bags Contd…

 Recycle all newspaper, glass, aluminum and other items accepted for recycling  Set up a compost bin in your garden or terrace  Start individual or community composting or vermicomposting plants  Do not litter the roads and surrounding  You could join any of the several NGOs that exist in our country or become volunteers. Contd … Contd …

 Learn about the biodiversity of your own area  You cannot improve your world by not voting.  Do not get discouraged at the first sign of trouble  When talking to elected officials always be courteous and reasonable.

Conclusion: The consequences of the above said events are expected to include significant public health needs, which in turn will necessitate disaster declarations. Community based risk-reduction activities lessen human vulnerability to the vagaries of natural disasters especially those activities that integrate public health disaster.

Contd… Management and climate change. Sustainable adaptations to climate change, along with community based public health preparedness and response activities build human resilience and lessen human vulnerability. Such local adaptation activities are also enhanced by a supportive policy environment at are National and International levels.

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