Public Health Approach to Disaster

1.2 Myths or Facts?

Decide whether the following statements are “Myths” or “Facts” in disaster and medical humanitarian response. Then clickon the button of your choice to find out the answers.

Statement 1:

In disaster situations, foreign medical volunteers of any background are needed.

The portrait presents the performance of surgical procedure during the relief period, when the resources are very limited.

Photo by DFAT photo library [link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dfataustralianaid/ ] – Some rights reserved [link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dfataustralianaid/ ].

Myth

IT’S A MYTH! Although the media often focus on international humanitarian aid efforts in disastersituations, the reality is that the local population almost always serves as first line responders in search andrescue. The local population also often provides many life-saving needs such as water, health services,shelters and food.

Fact

IT’S A MYTH! Although the media often focus on international humanitarian aid efforts in disastersituations, the reality is that the local population almost always serves as first line responders in search andrescue. The local population also often provides many life-saving needs such as water, health services,shelters and food.

Statement 2:

In crisis situations, emphasis should be placed on conducting thorough needs assessments and distribution of aid resources.

The image shows a banner from which the needs of the affected communities were proclaimed. It says, We need food, water, medical…

Photo by Inside Disaster [link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dfataustralianaid/ ] – Some rights reserved [link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dfataustralianaid/ ].

Myth

IT’S A FACT! Relief agencies and local governments should carefully select the type of internationalassistance they demand immediately after disasters. Crises that demand a large amount of foreign aidsupplies are often superimposed with underlying socio-economic situations – locations where local resourceswere insufficient to meet basic needs of populations even before the disaster. Hasty responses are often notbased on needs assessments and evaluations, which might contribute to “the secondary crisis,” where criticallogistic channels may be blocked by influx of aid supplies that do not benefit local populations, hamperingdelivery of other essential needs.

Fact

IT’S A FACT! Relief agencies and local governments should carefully select the type of internationalassistance they demand immediately after disasters. Crises that demand a large amount of foreign aidsupplies are often superimposed with underlying socio-economic situations – locations where local resourceswere insufficient to meet basic needs of populations even before the disaster. Hasty responses are often notbased on needs assessments and evaluations, which might contribute to “the secondary crisis,” where criticallogistic channels may be blocked by influx of aid supplies that do not benefit local populations, hamperingdelivery of other essential needs.

Statement 3:

After major disasters, health care services must immediately prepare for epidemics and infectious disease outbreaks.

The image captures the moment when emergency relief worker is administering vaccination for a young woman.

Photo by DFAT photo library [link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dfataustralianaid/ ] - Some rights reserved [link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dfataustralianaid/ ].

Myth

IT’S A MYTH! Although outbreaks have been observed after some disaster situations, the reality is thatepidemics do not spontaneously occur after disasters, and presence of dead bodies is not always directlyresponsible for outbreak of exotic diseases. Public health education and proper management of displacedpopulations are keys to preventing disease outbreak. In fact, management of chronic diseases is a risingchallenge in disaster relief in the 21st century.

Fact

IT’S A MYTH! Although outbreaks have been observed after some disaster situations, the reality is thatepidemics do not spontaneously occur after disasters, and presence of dead bodies is not always directlyresponsible for outbreak of exotic diseases. Public health education and proper management of displacedpopulations are keys to preventing disease outbreak. In fact, management of chronic diseases is a risingchallenge in disaster relief in the 21st century.

(WHO, 2004; Noji, 1997; Noji & Toole, 1997)

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