scholarly journals CCOUC Ethnic Minority Health Project: A Case Study for Health EDRM Initiatives to Improve Disaster Preparedness in a Rural Chinese Population

Author(s):  
Kevin K. C. Hung ◽  
Makiko K. MacDermot ◽  
Emily Y. Y. Chan ◽  
Sida Liu ◽  
Zhe Huang ◽  
...  

Disasters disproportionately impact poor and marginalised populations due to greater vulnerability induced by various risk determinants, such as compromised living conditions, language barriers, and limited resources for disaster risk management. Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health EDRM) emphasises a people- and community-centred approach for building stronger capacities in communities and countries since community members are often the first responders to health emergencies and should be central to effective risk management. A key action for promoting community disaster preparedness is the provision of Health EDRM education interventions. The Ethnic Minority Health Project (EHMP) has provided community-based Health EDRM education interventions in 16 ethnic minority-based villages in remote areas of China since 2009. It aims to enhance community disaster preparedness and resilience by improving health-risk literacy and self-help capacity at the individual and household levels. This case study outlines the first EHMP project in an ethnic minority-based community (Ma’an Qiao Village) in Sichuan Province, China. It highlights the key elements for planning and managing such a project and is a good demonstration of an effective Health EDRM workforce development project in rural communities. This report concludes with five recommendations for setting up a sustainable and effective Health EDRM education intervention in similar contexts.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 9121
Author(s):  
Michal Titko ◽  
Jozef Ristvej

Regarding the prognoses of disasters in the future connected with climate change, disaster risk management (DRM) is becoming one of the decisive elements of sustainable development. The possibility of involving the general public to DRM implementation is, currently, a frequently discussed topic. In particular, population preparedness for the involvement of the public is questionable and, therefore, the understanding of the conditions that facilitate public preparedness for disasters is decisive. This article presents the results of research that investigates the factors affecting (1) the objective preparedness of the population, as well as (2) the subjective perception of our preparedness for disasters. The statistical analysis discovered that both sides of the public’s preparedness depended especially on their experience with disasters, the awareness of the possible risks and appropriate procedures to solve situations, and the economic potential of the households. The results emphasize the need to support the process of increasing the awareness of risks and the possible preventive procedures that can be carried out before disasters by the public, including the more economically vulnerable groups. In this area, the collaboration of the responsible authorities and general public is very desirable. Therefore, our study and its results can serve as a support for creating the DRM policies and sustainable development.


2016 ◽  
Vol 841 ◽  
pp. 373-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio de Felice ◽  
Antonella Petrillo ◽  
Federico Zomparelli

The goal of the research is to present an integrated approach that combines multi criteria analysis and disaster and emergency management. The study is based on a well know multi criteria technique, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). An AHP model is proposed in order to define a Disaster Risk Management Performance Index (DRMPI) that quantifies the performance and effectiveness of risk management to evaluate emergency alternative problems. This model is implemented in a real case study.


2006 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-147
Author(s):  
Earl Kessler

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) was established in 1986. It was restructured in July 2003 to focus on specific technical areas: climate variability and change management, urban disaster risk management, public health in emergencies, building national and provincial disaster management systems, and community based disaster risk management (CBDRM), promoting regional cooperation, identifying disaster risk management (DRM) needs in the region and developing strategic solutions. The consolidation enables ADPC's teams to work more effectively with stakeholders and build cross-team inputs into their work. Multiple hazards under this new thematic approach are a key concept along with new areas of importance to DRM that include chemical, biological and radio-nuclear risks, heritage and disaster mitigation, and the role of domestic capital markets in financing improvements in the built environment to create a safer, more disaster-resilient world. The terms “risk management”, “risk reduction”, “vulnerability reduction”, “capacity building” and “mitigation” began replacing the reactive term “disaster management”, thus making pro-active DRM in Asia part of the development agenda that must deal with the growing variety and intensity of hazards. It was a shift from short-term, reactive, charity-driven responses to long-term, proactive, development initiatives. Making the right development choices requires coordinated efforts by committed leaders who have the political will and determination to include risk reduction measures in their policies and plans; a corporate sector that will prioritise risk issues and include them into their business plans; scientists who will provide the knowledge and understanding of current and new areas of risk reduction; committed non-government agencies that advocate for risk reduction; educators who are responsible for shaping the awareness of future generations; a mass media that has the power to influence and change behaviour; and informed citizens who make choices about the risks in their lives.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document