Open AccessReducing Disaster Exacerbated Non-communicable Diseases Through Public Health Infrastructure Resilience: Perspectives of Australian Disaster Service Providers
Author(s) -
Benjamin Ryan,
Richard C. Franklin,
Frederick M. Burkle,
Peter Aitken,
Erin Smith,
Kerrianne Watt,
Peter A. Leggat
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plos currents
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.282
H-Index - 49
ISSN - 2157-3999
DOI - 10.1371/currents.dis.d142f36b6f5eeca806d95266b20fed1f
Subject(s) - emergency management , vulnerability (computing) , public health , government (linguistics) , preparedness , medicine , communicable disease , service provider , environmental health , business , focus group , resilience (materials science) , health care , medical emergency , service (business) , environmental planning , computer security , political science , nursing , geography , computer science , linguistics , philosophy , physics , marketing , law , thermodynamics
The exposure of people and infrastructure to flood and storm related disasters across the world is increasing faster than vulnerability is decreasing. For people with non-communicable diseases this presents a significant risk as traditionally the focus of disaster management systems has been on immediate trauma and communicable diseases. This focus must now be expanded to include the management of non-communicable diseases because these conditions are generating the bulk of ill health, disability and premature death around the globe. When public health service infrastructure is destroyed or damaged access to treatment and care is severely jeopardised, resulting in an increased risk of non-communicable disease exacerbation or even death. This research proposes disaster responders, coordinators and government officials are vital assets to mitigate and eventually prevent these problems from being exacerbated during a disaster. This is due to their role in supporting the public health service infrastructure required to maximise treatment and care for people with non-communicable diseases. By focusing on the disaster cycle as a template, and on mitigation and prevention phases in particular, these actions and activities performed by disaster service responders will lead to overall improved preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation phases.