Current and Proposed Solutions
How we should solve the problem
Globally
International Assistance
Non-governmental organizations
Locally
Education
Disease surveillance, analysis, and treatment
Me
Study and Advocate
Global Solution
International Assistance with NGO
To begin with, the people in the affected areas need basic necessities such as medical equipment, medicines, and doctors to cope with infectious diseases. Therefore, I propose that philanthropic and non-governmental organizations should address people’s need for basic necessities. During the 2010 Haiti Earthquake organizations such as Americares delivered emergency medical supplies, supported field hospitals, and rebuilt and restocked damaged health facilities. Americares ensures people have access to health care, which is very important to relieve the impact of infectious diseases. Organizations such as UNICEF provided people with clean food, water, and temporary shelters that people would otherwise have a hard time acquiring. The use of unsanitized water or malnutrition is the leading cause of gastrointestinal diseases after earthquakes, and therefore addressing the health challenge after earthquakes is not only pushing forward SDG3 Good Health and Well Being, but also helping with SDG6 Safe Water for All. Despite the importance for organizations to support affected areas with resources, people themselves need to possess proper knowledge to truly combat disease.
Local Solution
Surveillance and Education
Apart from a global solution that allows people to receive basic necessities, the more sustainable solution is the local solution that allows people to possess knowledge about disease prevention. More academic resources should be put into disease surveillance, analysis, and treatment related to earthquakes because many people infected with cholera in Nepal were due to a lack of knowledge about sanitation and water treatment. The initiative combined public education on water treatment, hygiene, and sanitation with the distribution of water purification tablets and soap. It also involved testing and mapping contaminated water sources using GIS technology, with results shared directly with communities to encourage lasting behavioral change. These technical, academic, and educational efforts are important in addressing the health issue in earthquake-affected areas, and therefore the government, organizations, and local leaders are supposed to invest more in promoting community education and supporting research that strengthens disease prevention and response.
What I Can Do?
Study and Advocate
On a personal level, I can find more organizations and obtain more first-hand information on their work in the countries I have researched about. I can further research more content about epidemiology if I would like to further my research on disease control. I can also contact public health experts or professors in epidemiology to explore how disease outbreaks after disasters could be better predicted using data modeling and mapping technologies.