disasters and health: understanding the international context

Disasters and Health:Understanding the International Context

John Scott Patricia Bittner

Center forPublic Service

Communications

“Empowering competent enthusiastic people to do good things”

Center for Public Service Communications 2Disasters and Health: Understanding the International Context MLA Disaster Information Specialist– September 6, 2012

Good Afternoon!

• Agenda for the next two days• Using the ‘chat’ function • Background material and references in the

Moodle classroom at:http://mla.mrooms.org/course/view.php?id=48

This project is funded by a contract with the Disaster Information Management Research Center, Specialized Information Services Division, National Library of Medicine.

http://mla.mrooms.org/course/view.php?id=48

Disasters and Health: Understanding the International Context MLA Disaster Information Specialist– September 6, 2012 Center for Public Service Communications 3

Moodle Site for this Course


Objectives

• Increase awareness of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and disaster risk management (DRM) practices in ‘international’ (a.k.a. ‘other national’ and ‘multinational’) disasters and public health crises.

• Increase awareness of the breadth of the field and the variety of ‘constituents’ you may have.


Our Assumptions about the Participants

– You are a librarian or an information professional– You are part of an academic health center,

private/not-for-profit hospital/medical facility, local or state government health department, NGO, etc.

– Your constituents may be administrators, public health or medical professionals, academics or the public.

Day 1

6 September 2012


What’s the Most Common Typeof Disaster?

•There is more than one correct answer…


The difference between a disasterand an emergency…

9Center for Public Service CommunicationsDisasters and Health: Understanding the International Context MLA Disaster Information Specialist– September 6, 2012

The Ability to Respond Makesthe Difference

EMERGENCYLocal resources are sufficient to manage the crisis

DISASTERThe crisis exceeds the local capacity to respond


Importance of Defining Terms


ReliefWeb Glossary of Humanitarian Terms

• Find these publications in the Moodle classroom under General Information.


Some Definitions


An overly simplistic history of tipping points in ‘disaster management’ 1

• “The Old Days” (c. 1970): National Security/Emergency Preparedness -- focus on preparedness for nuclear events and “big ones”; earthquakes and hurricanes

• 1984: Chemical explosion in Bhopal, India• 1986: Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine and

the US 1979 Three Mile Island• 1990 - 2000: International Decade for Natural

Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) • 1990: AT&T long distance network crash in the U.S


An overly simplistic history of tipping points in ‘disaster management’ 2

• 1991: Break up of the Soviet Union • 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment &

Development (“Rio”) • 1993: Somalia (and former Yugoslavia, Rwanda in

similar timeframe)• 2001: “9/11”• c. 2005 Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)


Other Types of Health Emergencies?

PHEIC: Public Health Emergency of International Concernhttp://www.who.int/whr/2007/media_centre/07_chap5_fig01_en.pdf

Immediate global action is needed to provide a public health response to prevent or control the international spread of disease.

http://www.who.int/whr/2007/media_centre/07_chap5_fig01_en.pdf




Common Problemsin Most Disasters 1

• Water supply and sanitation• Communicable diseases• Mental health


Common Problemsin Most Disasters 2

• Damage to health infrastructure

• Food and nutrition• Population

displacement to water and sewage systems


Moodle Site for this Course


Health Impact ofSelected Natural Hazards


Who’s Who inEmergencies and Disasters

U.N. Agencies

• World Health Organization (WHO) www.who.int

• Pan American Health Org. (PAHO) www.paho.org/disasters

• World Meteorological Org. (WMO) www.wmo.org

• Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) www.unocha.org

• U.N. Development Program (UNDP) www.undp.org

• UN Children’s Program (UNICEF) www.unicef.org/

• World Food Program (WFP) www.wfp.org/

• UN High Commissioner for Refugees www.unhcr.org

• UN Environment Program (UNEP) www.unep.org

• Int’l Telecommunications Union (ITU) www.itu.org

http://www.who.int/

http://www.paho.org/disasters

http://www.wmo.org/

http://www.unocha.org/

http://www.undp.org/

http://www.unicef.org/

http://www.wfp.org/

http://www.unhcr.org/

http://www.unep.org/

http://www.itu.org/


World Health Organization


Pan American Health Organization


Example: Tropical Storm Isaac


UNDP


Other International Partners

• IFRC www.ifrc.org• ICRC www.icrc.org• IOM www.iom.int• MSF www.msf.org• Handicap International

www.handicap-international.us

OFDA (U.S.)CIDA (Canada)SIDA (Sweden)EU-ECHOJapanWorld BankRegional BanksFoundations

http://www.ifrc.org/

http://www.icrc.org/

http://www.iom.int/

http://www.msf.org/

http://www.handicap-international.us/

http://www.handicap-international.us/


IFRC


More on Who’s Doing Whatin Disasters


Interaction 1


Interaction 2


Interaction 3


Follow these Agencies on Social Media

• NLM DIMRC: http://twitter.com/NLM_DIMRC

• USAID - http://twitter.com/theOFDA • PAHO Disasters:

http://twitter.com/PAHOdisasters • WHO/PAHO EOC:

http://twitter.com/pahoeoc• ReliefWeb: http://twitter.com/reliefweb• USGS: http://twitter.com/usgs • NOAA: http://twitter.com/NOAA • Natural Hazards Center –

http://twitter.com/HazCenter

• CDC Emergency: http://www.facebook.com/cdcemergency

• IFRC: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IFRC-IDRL-Programme/197688860525

• PAHO Disasters: http://www.facebook.com/PAHOdisasters

• UNOCHA: http://www.facebook.com/UNOCHA

• Doctors without Borders: http://www.facebook.com/msf.english

http://twitter.com/NLM_DIMRC

http://twitter.com/theOFDA

http://twitter.com/PAHOdisasters

http://twitter.com/pahoeoc

http://twitter.com/reliefweb

http://twitter.com/usgs

http://twitter.com/NOAA

http://twitter.com/HazCenter

http://www.facebook.com/cdcemergency

http://www.facebook.com/pages/IFRC-IDRL-Programme/197688860525

http://www.facebook.com/pages/IFRC-IDRL-Programme/197688860525

http://www.facebook.com/PAHOdisasters

http://www.facebook.com/UNOCHA

http://www.facebook.com/msf.english


Good Sources of General Information

• Natural Disasters: Protecting the Public’s Health. Pan American Health Organization. http://paho.org/disasters/

• NLM Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health http://disasterlit.nlm.nih.gov/• Health, Disasters and Risk. UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

http://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/publications/3816• Technical Guidance. World Health Organization

http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/en/index.html• Prehospital and Disaster Medicine (Journal of the World Association of Disaster Medicine)

http://pdm.medicine.wisc.edu/ • Health and Safety Concerns for all Disasters. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/alldisasters.asp

• Disaster Risk Reduction and Response at the International Level:

Global Trends in a Changing Environment

http://new.paho.org/disasters/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=653&Itemid=1&lang=en

http://disasterlit.nlm.nih.gov/

http://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/publications/3816

http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/en/index.html

http://pdm.medicine.wisc.edu/

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/alldisasters.asp


2004 Southeast Asia TsunamiA “Tipping Point”

• The earthquake that triggered the Indian Ocean tsunamis on 24 December 2004 was the world's largest natural disaster in 40 years.

• It led to destructive tsunamis that left approximately 227,000 people dead, missing and assumed dead.

• Fourteen countries were affected, with Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand the hardest hit in terms of loss of life.


Members of the Tsunami Evaluation Coalition

UN Agencies

FAOOCHAUNDPUNFPAUNICEFWFPWHO

Research Networks

ALNAPDARA Int’lFeinstein Int’l Famine CenterGroupe URDHPG/ODIICMH (Migration & Health)

Donors

AusAid (Australia) BMZ (Germany)CIDA (Canada)Danida (Denmark)DfA (Ireland)DfiD (UK)IOB/MFA (Net‘lands)JICA & MoFA (Japan)MFA (France)MFA (Luxembourg)NORAD (Norway)NZAid (New Zealand)SDC (Switzerland)SIDA (Sweden)USAID (United States)

NGOs and RC

ActionAid Int’lAIDMI (India)CAFODCARE Int’l UKCordaidIFRCOxfam GBRedRSave the Children (UK)Tearfund UKWorld VisionInt’l World VisionCanada


TEC Findings

• Poor coordination due to:– Proliferation of agencies (all types)– Funding fueled competition– Lack of NGO field representation mechanisms– Poor coordination skills

• Aid was supply-driven, resulting in inappropriate aid in some cases.


OneResponse: Cluster ApproachA Paradigm Shift

The Cluster Approach aims to strengthen overall response capacity and effectiveness of the responsehttp://oneresponse.info/GlobalClusters/health/Pages/default.aspx

• Ensure sufficient global capacities maintained in all main sectors/areas.

• Ensure predictable leadership based on agreed standards and guidelines (Cluster leads also act as the “provider of last resort”).

• The concept of partnerships/clusters (avoiding situations were governments have to deal with hundreds of uncoordinated international actors).

• Strengthens accountability (IASC Generic Terms of Reference for Sector/Cluster Leads at the Country Level).

• Improve strategic field-level coordination.

http://oneresponse.info/GlobalClusters/health/Pages/default.aspx


Health Cluster Functions at the Country Level

• Formulating strategies and plans in collaboration with Ministry of Health and UN agencies

• Monitoring health trends, activities and outcomes• Joint decisions and follow-up• Collation, preparation and dissemination of health

information• Resource mapping (Who, What, Where)• Response to needs / gaps • Advocacy and resource mobilization• Inter-cluster linkages


Cluster System in Haiti

• Agriculture• Camp Coordination/

Management• Early Recovery• Education• Emergency

Telecommunications• Food• Health

• Health Cluster Surveys

• Logistics• Nutrition• Protection• Shelter and Non-food

Items• Water and Sanitation


Health Cluster in Haiti

PAHO/WHO led the Health Cluster in Haiti, which consisted of the following sub-clusters:

• Mobile Clinics• Hospitals• Disability and Rehabilitation• Health Information

Management• Disease Surveillance• Reproductive Health• Mental Health and

Psychosocial Support


Main challenges related to Information in Haiti

• Pressure to provide accurate/transparent information

• The “We don’t have time to read” syndrome• Information gaps — often filled by unvalidated

sources • Lack of searchable information• ‘Players’ searching for visibility • Poor or insufficient information, rumors• Poor ‘institutional sharing’ of information


Information Specialists in Disasters: What was Needed in Haiti

• Ability to know what information is most needed and relevant at any time and in dynamic environments

• Ability to understand, process and present information in a pertinent way for decision making

• Excellent communication and writing skills• Ability to make decissions on best tools for IM• Able to be on-call 24/7• Use of Web 2.0 and “social media” technologies


In the words of the experts… 1

• Process of setting up systems—even relatively simple ones like the ‘WWW’ (who does what, where, when?)—is cumbersome.

• Information management is central to managing the Health Cluster. WHO information manager is part of core team that is deployed.

• It is very difficult to sift through and analyze the large volume of reports and updates -- especially in the first week of an emergency.

• There are very few systematic repositories of disaster information and even with such systems in place populating them is difficult.

Dr. Roderico Ofrin, WHO Regional Office for Southeast AsiaMember of the tsunami health response team.


In the words of the experts… 2

• The challenge was collecting two types of information: information for the ‘outside world,’ such as donors and agencies, and information for purely operational purposes.

• Social media was used in Haiti during the first days of the emergency, but was very limited, as phone and Internet service was spotty. It also may have contributed to the spread of rumors that later needed to be verified.

• The use of social media in response has not been well exploited or optimized – experiences from Haiti was the last in-depth study on this.

Dr. Dana Van Alphen, PAHO/WHO Health Cluster LeadEarthquake in Haiti


Scenario

Consider a major disaster such as the earthquake or cholera outbreak in Haiti or the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan, resulting from the earthquake/tsunami (or choose another disaster that claimed international attention).

Try to anticipate what type of information your constituents may be looking for. Why might they be asking for this information?

From your experience, or using your imagination, consider the supportive role you and your library might play in providing information about these events (you might choose to focus on response, recovery or preparedness).

Research trusted sources identify some practical advice or guidance that you can give to one or more of your constituents.


Homework for Day 2

Exercise

Give some examples of information you have found, what sites you have used and why this might be useful to your constituents. (This can be on any aspect of the disaster).

• Email your completed exercise to [email protected]

• In the email subject line, please add the following: [your last name]_INT_Homework

• (e.g.,) Smith_INT_Homework

Use the Moodle classroom:http://mla.mrooms.org/course/view.php?id=48

Some information sources

Health Cluster (Haiti) http://[email protected] American Health Organization. Health Response to the Earthquake in Haiti. http://www.paho.org/disasters WHO/Western Pacific Regional Office http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/health-topics/emergencies/disaster-preparedness-and-response/publications(search on Fukushima)NOAA http://www.tsunami.noaa.gov/index.html International Atomic Energy Agency http://www.iaea.orgReliefWeb http://reliefweb.int/Interaction http://www.interaction.org/

mailto:[email protected]




http://[email protected]/

http://new.paho.org/disasters/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1626&Itemid=1

http://new.paho.org/disasters/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1626&Itemid=1

http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/health-topics/emergencies/disaster-preparedness-and-response/publications




http://www.tsunami.noaa.gov/index.html

http://www.iaea.org/

http://reliefweb.int/

http://www.interaction.org/

disasters and health: understanding the international context

Documents

academic health center

public health crises

general information

information professionalyou

terms disasters

multinational disasters

definitions disasters

emergency disasters