Health mitigation measures and their effectiveness

Health Tsunami

Public Health and the 2004 Tsunami

Natural disasters are by their very nature's unexpected in their arrival and devastating in their impact on health and infrastructure. This can make it very difficult to adequately respond to such incidents, especially in less-developed regions of the world. The destruction of roads and communications infrastructure makes it incredibly difficult to coordinate and deliver relief and rescue services, and prolonged clean up periods brought on by the same infrastructural damage and a general lack of experience, equipment, and expertise leads to sustained health dangers following many disasters. In order to mitigate the public health problems that natural disasters can cause, constant assessment of a region's or community's weaknesses and available resources must be conducted as a means of bringing about a state of preparedness for handling such situations at any time.

The need for such mitigating practices was clearly outlined in the tsunamis that struck South Asia in December of 2004. One of the most basic and seemingly non-medical actions that should have been taken prior to the tsunamis, and that was nearly impossible to accomplish afterwards, was the creation of a better logistical system for communicating and for delivering the goods and personnel needed to achieve effective rescue and relief efforts (WHO 2005). Roads, bridges, and telecommunication capabilities (including wireless, satellite, and wire transmission infrastructure) is not directly health, but without these elements there is no way to coordinate or deliver effective health mitigation efforts and practices (WHO 2005). Helping the developing world to develop these elements faster would have led to far fewer and more easily addressed health problems.

Mental health services are also not the first things to be thought of in the wake of immense physical damage and issues such as a lack of water, food, and shelter, but in many ways the long terms effects on the metal health of survivors of a natural or other disaster can be more devastating -- though more subtle (CDC 2006). A 2006 study that examined the rates of depression and other mental health disorders following the December 2004 tsunami found that large numbers of people still faced significant health impairment from the event, and that treatment had been negligible when compared to relief and rebuilding efforts in other areas (CDC 2006). These efforts would likely be made far more effective and efficient, however, if mental health issues were dealt with. Addressing the depression and other mental health maladies that the people suffered from following the tsunami would have led to a better adjusted and more productive (as well as healthier) population.