Natural Disasters: Protecting the Public's Health

by World Health Organization

Overview

A didactic guide to all health-related measures needed to prepare for natural disasters, reduce their immediate impact, and facilitate recovery. Noting that all natural disasters share several features, the book aims to provide a framework that administrators can rely on when planning and managing the health sector's response. Details range from a list of eight misconceptions that may cause authorities to take inappropriate action, through a discussion of the sensitive issues surrounding inappropriate drug and food donations, to a distinction between responsibilities best handled by the affected country and those requiring international aid. Throughout the book, recent experiences from the Americas are used to illustrate both the impact of specific types of disaster and opportunities for mitigating their effects.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789275115756
Publisher:	World Health Organization
Publication date:	12/30/2000
Series:	PAHO Scientific Publication
Pages:	199
Product dimensions:	5.88(w) x 8.33(h) x (d)

About the Author

World Health Organization is a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, charged to act as the world's directing and coordinating authority on questions of human health. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries, and monitoring and assessing health trends.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: David Prichard, PhD (University of New England)
Description: This book is an excellent update of the guidelines of the 1981 Emergency Health Management after Natural Disaster publication. The general effects of disasters on health are discussed, and myths and realities are highlighted.
Purpose: The health sector's role in reducing the impact of disasters is outlined and a framework is presented for administrators to make effective decisions in managing the health sector's activities to reduce the consequences of disasters.
Audience: The book is written for health sector professionals who participate in disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation.
Features: The publishers do an effective and innovative job summarizing how the health sector needs to be structured to work with other sectors to cope with disasters. They discuss strategies for reducing the consequences of disaster and set forth guidelines for preparing health sector plans and means of coordination. New to this volume is discussion of disaster mitigation activities that the health sector needs to promote which will reduce vulnerability in health establishments. Response to disasters is discussed, and an excellent section on coordination and evaluation of health needs is included. Other revisions include sections on humanitarian supplies and assistance.
Assessment: I found the book very well written, clearly presented, and well documented — an excellent addition to the literature on natural disasters and a 'must have' resource for individuals involved in disaster preparedness. I highly recommend it.

Doody's Review Service

5 Stars! from Doody

This book is an excellent update of the guidelines of the 1981 Emergency Health Management after Natural Disaster publication. The general effects of disasters on health are discussed, and myths and realities are highlighted. The health sector's role in reducing the impact of disasters is outlined and a framework is presented for administrators to make effective decisions in managing the health sector's activities to reduce the consequences of disasters. The book is written for health sector professionals who participate in disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation. The publishers do an effective and innovative job summarizing how the health sector needs to be structured to work with other sectors to cope with disasters. They discuss strategies for reducing the consequences of disaster and set forth guidelines for preparing health sector plans and means of coordination. New to this volume is discussion of disaster mitigation activities that the health sector needs to promote which will reduce vulnerability in health establishments. Response to disasters is discussed, and an excellent section on coordination and evaluation of health needs is included. Other revisions include sections on humanitarian supplies and assistance. I found the book very well written, clearly presented, and well documented -- an excellent addition to the literature on natural disasters and a 'must have' resource for individuals involved in disaster preparedness. I highly recommend it.

David Prichard