Building Human Resilience Building Human Resilience -Role of Individual and -Role of Individual and

CommunityCommunity

Climate change and Climate change and extreme extreme

weather events weather events Global climate change will increase the Global climate change will increase the

probability probability

of extreme weather events which may be of extreme weather events which may be

associated with associated with

a. High precipitation i.e. Storms floods and landa. 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 sixThe relative public health impact of the six

natural disasters expected to worsen withnatural disasters expected to worsen with

climate change climate change

Storms and floods –Loss of clean water, shelter,Storms and floods –Loss of clean water, shelter,

personal and household goods, sanitation, personal and household goods, sanitation, routine routine

hygiene distortion of solid waste management hygiene distortion of solid waste management

increased pests and vectors, loss and /or increased pests and vectors, loss and /or damage damage

of health care system, worsening of existing of health care system, worsening of existing

chronic illnesses possible toxic exposures to air, chronic illnesses possible toxic exposures to air,

water, food.water, food.

UN intergovernmental UN intergovernmental panel on panel on

climate change (IPCC)climate change (IPCC)Millions of people are projected to be flooded every Millions of people are projected to be flooded every year due to sea-level rise by 2080s. year due to sea-level rise by 2080s. By 2020 between 75 to 250 million are projected to By 2020 between 75 to 250 million are projected to

be be exposed to an increase in water stress. exposed to an increase in water stress. The public health impact of extreme weather events: The public health impact of extreme weather events:

More people are affected More people are affected Economic losses Economic losses Between 1970 and 1999 -90% of the fatalities are Between 1970 and 1999 -90% of the fatalities are due to climate related events due to climate related events Affected determinants of population health such Affected determinants of population health such as education, health care etc. as education, health care etc.

Building Human Resilience as Building Human Resilience as adaptation to climate changeadaptation to climate change

UN and WHO define a disaster as a serious UN and WHO define a disaster as a serious

disruption of the functioning of a community disruption of the functioning of a community or a or a

society causing widespread human, material, society causing widespread human, material,

economic or environmental losses which economic or environmental losses which exceed the exceed the

ability of the affected community or society ability of the affected community or society to cope to cope

using its own resources.using its own resources.

Contd…Contd…For any given hazard disaster risk varies For any given hazard disaster risk varies according to population’s vulnerability eg. according to population’s vulnerability eg. age, age, gender, health status SES etc. gender, health status SES etc.

Disaster risk managementDisaster risk management Now it is shifted from post–impact Now it is shifted from post–impact activities to a more systematic and activities to a more systematic and comprehensive risk management process. comprehensive risk management process. As per disaster experts Lisa schipper and As per disaster experts Lisa schipper and Mark Pelling.Mark Pelling.

Contd…Contd…

Disaster risk management includesDisaster risk management includes Pre-impact disaster risk reduction –Pre-impact disaster risk reduction –prevention, preparedness and mitigationprevention, preparedness and mitigation

Response and recovery post impact crisis Response and recovery post impact crisis management activities. management activities.

Preparedness is an activity and measures Preparedness is an activity and measures taken in taken in

advance to ensure effective response to the advance to ensure effective response to the impact impact

of hazards. of hazards.

Contd…Contd…

Mitigation is the structural and non-Mitigation is the structural and non-structural structural

measures undertaken to limit the measures undertaken to limit the adverse impactadverse impact

of natural hazards, environmental of natural hazards, environmental degradation and degradation and

technologic hazards.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 areDelivered post-impact Least cost effectiveNationally and internationally based Nonsustainable

Contd…Contd…

Human Human resilience as a means for resilience as a means for vulnerability vulnerability

ReductionReduction

Vulnerability to natural disasters has two sideVulnerability to natural disasters has two side

1. The degree of exposure to dangerous 1. The degree of exposure to dangerous hazards hazards

(Susceptibility)(Susceptibility)

2. The capacity to cope with or recover from 2. The capacity to cope with or recover from the the

consequences of disasters (Resilience)consequences of disasters (Resilience)

Contd….Contd…. Vulnerability reduction programs reduce Vulnerability reduction programs reduce

susceptibility and increase resilience susceptibility and increase resilience Susceptibility to disasters decreases Susceptibility to disasters decreases

through through activities such as prevention and activities such as prevention and

mitigation mitigation Resilience is increased by preparedness Resilience is increased by preparedness

response response and recovery activitiesand recovery activities Resilience has two components Resilience has two components

** Provided by nature Provided by nature * Provided through human action.* Provided through human action.

Contd….Contd….Disaster resilience is composed of Disaster resilience is composed of

* The absorbing capacity * The absorbing capacity * The buffering capacity* The buffering capacity* Response to the event and recovery from the * Response to the event and recovery from the damage sustained.damage sustained.

Building resilience to extreme weather events Building resilience to extreme weather events through public health preparedness and through public health preparedness and

response.response. By promoting safety and health –to reduce the By promoting safety and health –to reduce the

pre-existing burden of disease, build social pre-existing burden of disease, build social capital, and strengthen community resiliencecapital, and strengthen community resilience

Promotion of healthy people, healthy homes Promotion of healthy people, healthy homes and healthy communities. and healthy communities.

Resilience –building strategies Resilience –building strategies for extreme weather events for extreme weather events related to climate changerelated to climate change

DroughtDrought

The public health impact of drought The public health impact of drought disasters:disasters:

Drought is usually designed as a period of Drought is usually designed as a period of

abnormally dry weather that is sufficiently abnormally dry weather that is sufficiently

prolonged so that the lack of water causes a prolonged so that the lack of water causes a

serious hydrologic imbalance in the affected serious hydrologic imbalance in the affected area. area.

Contd…Contd…

Causes of death due to droughtCauses of death due to drought.. Dehydration, Agricultural Economic and Dehydration, Agricultural Economic and

health effects like famine, mal nutrition health effects like famine, mal nutrition povety, poor public health practices. povety, poor public health practices. Contamination of existing water supplies Contamination of existing water supplies heat related illness. Infectious diseases heat related illness. Infectious diseases and social strife. and social strife.

Psychosocial impact-decreased quality Psychosocial impact-decreased quality of life major changes in lifestyle and of life major changes in lifestyle and increasing conflict over water resources. increasing conflict over water resources.

Contd…Contd…Preparing for drought –related public health Preparing for drought –related public health Emergencies:Emergencies: Risk assessment focusing on critical Risk assessment focusing on critical

health needs such as food, security, water, health needs such as food, security, water, sanitation , shelter, and psychosocial sanitation , shelter, and psychosocial political and economic impact of the political and economic impact of the drought.drought.

Accurate short and long term forecasting Accurate short and long term forecasting and early warning. and early warning.

Public education about locally relevant Public education about locally relevant water use health risks and behaviours.water use health risks and behaviours.

Epidemiologic investigation and disease Epidemiologic investigation and disease surveillance.surveillance.

Responding to drought –Responding to drought –related public health related public health

emergenciesemergencies Food security Food security Safe water and adequate sanitation Safe water and adequate sanitation Hygiene Hygiene Infection control in health care Infection control in health care

settings settings Surveillance Surveillance Temporary shelter for displaced Temporary shelter for displaced

populationspopulations

Contd…Contd…Wild fireWild fire The public health impact of wild fire disasters: The public health impact of wild fire disasters: Wild fire is defined as a sweeping and destructive Wild fire is defined as a sweeping and destructive conflagration, especially in a wilderness or a rural area. conflagration, especially in a wilderness or a rural area. Burn injuries Burn injuries Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

and asthma and asthma Population displacementPopulation displacement Preparing for wild fire related public health emergencies Preparing for wild fire related public health emergencies Fire hazard evaluation Fire hazard evaluation Emergency plans and exercises on contingencies for Emergency plans and exercises on contingencies for

population evacuation and for mass care and shelter population evacuation and for mass care and shelter Public education on risk of wildfire and protective steps to Public education on risk of wildfire and protective steps to

take i.e. evacuation and shelter take i.e. evacuation and shelter

Rapid needs assessment to identify Rapid needs assessment to identify gaps among health, medical needs gaps among health, medical needs and available resourcesand available resources

Shelter and resettlement decisions. Shelter and resettlement decisions. Health care delivery in inspections of Health care delivery in inspections of

food, in air safety and water quality food, in air safety and water quality Assessment of sanitation and Assessment of sanitation and

hygiene in mass care shelters. hygiene in mass care shelters.

Responding to wild fire –Responding to wild fire –related public health related public health

emergencies:emergencies:

Contd….Contd….

Hazard risk analysis or to promote Hazard risk analysis or to promote the occupational health and safety the occupational health and safety of responders if wildfire threatens of responders if wildfire threatens manufactured hazardous materials manufactured hazardous materials

Health –related public information Health –related public information campaigns to encourage family campaigns to encourage family based preparedness, inform based preparedness, inform vulnerable populations and vulnerable populations and promote evacuation preparedness.promote evacuation preparedness.

Floods Floods The public health impact of floods The public health impact of floods

Floods are defined as the overflow of areas Floods are defined as the overflow of areas that are not normally submerged with that are not normally submerged with water or a stream that has broken its water or a stream that has broken its normal confines or has accumulated due normal confines or has accumulated due to lack of drainage.to lack of drainage.

Causes Causes By natural process likeBy natural process like

Fluvial –like heavy rainfallFluvial –like heavy rainfall melting snowmelting snow

Coastal like hurricane Coastal like hurricane

Contd…Contd…

Public health impacts Public health impacts Damage to homes and consequent Damage to homes and consequent

displacement of occupants displacement of occupants Compromised personal hygiene Compromised personal hygiene Contamination of water sources Contamination of water sources Disruption of sewage service and solid –Disruption of sewage service and solid –

waste collectionwaste collection Injuries sustained during clean up Injuries sustained during clean up Stress-related mental health and substance Stress-related mental health and substance

abuse problems abuse problems Deaths mostly caused by drowning Deaths mostly caused by drowning

Preparing for public health Preparing for public health emergenciesemergencies

caused by floodcaused by flood Meteorological forecasting and early warning Meteorological forecasting and early warning

Planning addressing precautionary flood-related Planning addressing precautionary flood-related health issues like shelter loss. Sanitation, hygiene health issues like shelter loss. Sanitation, hygiene and health care among affected populations, and health care among affected populations, exacerbations of chronic diseases toxic exposures exacerbations of chronic diseases toxic exposures mental illness, family violence and loss of health mental illness, family violence and loss of health care services. care services.

Drills and exercises on population protection Drills and exercises on population protection alert /alert /

notification systems for public health and medical notification systems for public health and medical staff and staff and

for special populations. for special populations.

Contd…Contd…

Public health communications on Public health communications on preparedness in the home, in schools, in preparedness in the home, in schools, in the work place and at health care the work place and at health care facilitiesfacilities

Health communications to raise public Health communications to raise public awareness ofawareness of evacuation routes, flood evacuation routes, flood zones and community responsezones and community response plans. plans.

Development of robust public health Development of robust public health surveillance systems for needs surveillance systems for needs assessment and survey flood related assessment and survey flood related mortality and morbidity mortality and morbidity

Responding to flood-related Responding to flood-related public emergenciespublic emergencies

Perverting potential spread of Perverting potential spread of infections disease by flood watersinfections disease by flood waters

Basic rules of hygiene and Basic rules of hygiene and sanitation sanitation

Preventing vector breeding and Preventing vector breeding and vectorborne diseasesvectorborne diseases

Community –based primary care Community –based primary care for miner soft tissue injuriesfor miner soft tissue injuries

evacuation of special populations evacuation of special populations eg. hospital, Schools prisons etc. eg. hospital, Schools prisons etc.

Tropical cyclonesTropical cyclonesPublic health impact Public health impact

Tropical cyclones are low-pressure Tropical cyclones are low-pressure weather systems that develop over the weather systems that develop over the warm waters of the oceans.warm waters of the oceans.

Mortality due to drowning Mortality due to drowning Morbidity due to injuryMorbidity due to injury Animal and insect bitesAnimal and insect bites Exacerbation of chronic diseases like Exacerbation of chronic diseases like

asthma, COPD.asthma, COPD. Water borne and vector borne diseasesWater borne and vector borne diseases Behavioral health effects.Behavioral health effects.

Preparing for public health Preparing for public health emergenciesemergencies

Weather monitoring and forecastingWeather monitoring and forecasting Evacuation of at-risk populationEvacuation of at-risk population Provision of adequate shelter, food, Provision of adequate shelter, food,

water, sanitation, and health care.water, sanitation, and health care. Public education to create awareness Public education to create awareness

on evacuation routes etc.on evacuation routes etc. Equipment like power generators to Equipment like power generators to

maintain health and medical maintain health and medical infrastructure.infrastructure.

Responding to public health Responding to public health emergencies like cyclones.emergencies like cyclones.

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

Land slides (Debris flows) Land slides (Debris flows)

The Public health impactThe Public health impact

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

Impact of Land slidesImpact of Land slides

Traumatic injuryTraumatic injury

Mortality due to injury and Mortality due to injury and asphyxiationasphyxiation

Morbidity due to injuries, wound Morbidity due to injuries, wound infection disruption of water, infection disruption of water, sanitation and shelter and locally sanitation and shelter and locally grown food supplygrown food supply

Mycosis infestation due to release of Mycosis infestation due to release of AnthrosporesAnthrospores

Preparing For Public Preparing For Public Health Emergencies Caused Health Emergencies Caused

By Land SlidesBy Land SlidesRainfall monitoring & warningRainfall monitoring & warning

Evacuation of populationEvacuation of population

Public health information Public health information campaigns to communicate risk campaigns to communicate risk and protective behaviors.and protective behaviors.

Education on hazard awareness, Education on hazard awareness, mitigation preparedness and mitigation preparedness and response measuresresponse measures

Contd…Contd…

Promotion of safe and healthy community Promotion of safe and healthy community After land slides,After land slides,

- Life saving search and rescue efforts - Life saving search and rescue efforts - First aid for immediate, life - First aid for immediate, life

threatening threatening traumatic injuries.traumatic injuries.

- Occupational health and safety - Occupational health and safety - Basic needs focus - Basic needs focus - Delivery of medical and health - Delivery of medical and health

services services in the event of population in the event of population

displacement displacement

Individual and community Individual and community rolerole

Plant trees wherever you can and Plant trees wherever you can and more importantly take care of them. more importantly take care of them. They reduce air pollution They reduce air pollution

Reduce the use of wood and paper Reduce the use of wood and paper products wherever possible products wherever possible

Reuse as many envelopes as you canReuse as many envelopes as you can Do not buy furniture, doors or window Do not buy furniture, doors or window

frames made from tropical frames made from tropical hardwoods. hardwoods.

Use pesticides only when absolutely Use pesticides only when absolutely necessary and use them in small necessary and use them in small amounts.amounts.

Advocate organic farming Advocate organic farming Reduce the use of fossil fuels Reduce the use of fossil fuels Buy consumer goods that last.Buy consumer goods that last. Try to avoid asking for plastic carry Try to avoid asking for plastic carry

bags bags

Contd…Contd…

Recycle all newspaper, glass, aluminum Recycle all newspaper, glass, aluminum and other items accepted for recycling and other items accepted for recycling

Set up a compost bin in your garden or Set up a compost bin in your garden or terrace terrace

Start individual or community composting Start individual or community composting or vermicomposting plants or vermicomposting plants

Do not litter the roads and surrounding Do not litter the roads and surrounding You could join any of the several NGOs You could join any of the several NGOs

that exist in our country or become that exist in our country or become volunteers.volunteers.

ContdContd……

Contd…Contd…

Learn about the biodiversity of your Learn about the biodiversity of your own area own area

You cannot improve your world by You cannot improve your world by not voting. not voting.

Do not get discouraged at the first Do not get discouraged at the first sign of troublesign of trouble

When talking to elected officials When talking to elected officials always be courteous and reasonable. always be courteous and reasonable.

Conclusion:Conclusion:The consequences of the above said The consequences of the above said

events events

are expected to include significant public health are expected to include significant public health

needs, which in turn will necessitate disaster needs, which in turn will necessitate disaster

declarations. declarations.

Community based risk-reduction activities Community based risk-reduction activities

lessen human vulnerability to the vagaries of lessen human vulnerability to the vagaries of

natural disasters especially those activities that natural disasters especially those activities that

integrate public health disaster. integrate public health disaster.

Contd…Contd…

Management and climate change. Sustainable Management and climate change. Sustainable

adaptations to climate change, along with adaptations to climate change, along with

community based public health preparedness and community based public health preparedness and

response activities build human resilience and response activities build human resilience and

lessen human vulnerability. Such local adaptation lessen human vulnerability. Such local adaptation

activities are also enhanced by a supportive policy activities are also enhanced by a supportive policy

environment at are National and International environment at are National and International

levels. levels.

THANK THANK YOUYOU