Case Station for Translational Research
Emergency health situations often occur as a consequence of a primary disaster of great magnitude due to its impact on the living environment. The relationship between the occurrence of a disaster and an outbreak of communicable diseases is reported to be associated with the size and characteristics of the displaced populations. The lack of infrastructure and resources, inexistence of disaster preparedness programs are among factors that contribute to increased risks of epidemics following a humanitarian crisis. Critical attention should be paid to hygiene control in shelters to maintain minimum health safety level. In this context, reducing risks involves changed behavior and lifestyle during a temporary settlement period after disaster.
In local communities, nurses collect information about and mitigate communicable disease risks. Nurses may manage community’s health environment as well as hospital wards. They can play a vital role in restoration of public health under disaster condition (water, sanitation, food, and shelter) and in identification of high risk and vulnerable population including unique needs of family in disaster.
