Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-s22k5 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-24T05:10:35.575Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Information Technology and Public Health Management of Disasters—A Model for South Asian Countries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Dolly Mathew
Dolly Mathew*
Affiliation:
School of Social Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India
*
School of Social Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper highlights the use of information technology (IT) in disaster management and public health management of disasters. Effective health response to disasters will depend on three important lines of action: (1) disaster preparedness; (2) emergency relief; and (3) management of disasters. This is facilitated by the presence of modern communication and space technology, especially the Internet and remote sensing satellites. This has made the use of databases, knowledge bases, geographic information systems (GIS), management information systems (MIS), information transfer, and online connectivity possible in the area of disaster management and medicine.

This paper suggests a conceptual model called, “The Model for Public Health Management of Disasters for South Asia”. This Model visualizes the use of IT in the public health management of disasters by setting up the Health and Disaster Information Network and Internet Community Centers, which will facilitate cooperation among all those in the areas of disaster management and emergency medicine. The suggested infrastructure would benefit the governments, non-government organizations, and institutions working in the areas of disaster and emergency medicine, professionals, the community, and all others associated with disaster management and emergency medicine. The creation of such an infrastructure will enable the rapid transfer of information, data, knowledge, and online connectivity from top officials to the grassroots organizations, and also among these countries regionally. This Model may be debated, modified, and tested further in the field to suit the national and local conditions. It is hoped that this exercise will result in a viable and practical model for use in public health management of disasters by South Asian countries.

Keywords

databasesdisasterdisaster managementdisaster medicinegeographic information surplus (GIS)health and disaster information network (HDIN)health careIndiainformation technologyInternet coordination and controlmanagement information systems (MIS)modelSouth Asiatelemedicine
Type
Special Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , February 2005 , pp. 54 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Sinha, DK (ed): Natural Disaster Reduction for the Nineties: Perspectives, Aspects and Strategies. 78th Indian Science Congress. Calcutta International Journal Services, 1992.Google Scholar
2. “Health Agenda for the 21st Century” Chapter 8 World Health Report of 1998. World Health Organization. 1998. Available at http://www.who.int/whr/1998/en/whr98_ch8.pdf. Accessed 19 November 2004.Google Scholar
3. Akhtar, S: Promoting the Internet in South Asia. Economic and Political Weekly. 20 November 1999.Google Scholar
4. Menon, VC: Application of Information Technology in Disaster Management. International Conference on Disaster Management in South Asia. New Delhi, India. 1999.Google Scholar
5. Ayangar, RS: Disaster management information system. Geographic information systems Development May-June 1999 Available at http://www.gisdevelopment.net/magazine/gis-dev/1999/may-jun/dmis.shtml. Accessed 19 November 2004.Google Scholar
6. Sharma, VK: Use of geographic information systems-related technologies for managing disasters in India—An overview. geographic information systems Development, May-June 1999. Available at http://www.gisdevelopment.net/magazine/gisdev/1999/may-jun/dmis.shtml. Accessed 19 November 2004.Google Scholar
7. Menon, VC: Maharastra disaster management plan—An overview. geographic information systems Development, May-June 1999. Available at http://www.gisdevelopment.net/magazine/gisdev/1999/may-jun/mdmpao.shtml. Accessed 19 November 2004.Google Scholar
8. “Telemedicine” online lecture. University of Pittsburgh. Available at http://www.pitt.edu/AFShome/s/u/super1/public/html/lecture/lec0921/. Accessed 19 November 2004.Google Scholar
9. LaPorte, RE, Shoubnikov, E. Reaching out to teachers: The BA Supercourse. (Abstract) The Bibliotheca Alexandria Conference on Ethical and Social Responsibilities in Science and Technology, Alexandria, Egypt. 20 Oct. 2002 Available at http://www.pitt.edu/AFShome/s/u/super1/public/html/assist/pub.htm Accessed 19 November 2004.Google Scholar
10. “Disaster and hospital functions” online lecture. University of Pittsburgh. Available at http://www.pitt.edu/AFShome/s/u/super1/public/html/lecture/lec0581/. Accessed 19 November 2004.Google Scholar
11. Rao, M, Bhandari, SR, Iqbal, SM: Struggling with the digital divide. Economic and Political Weekly 20-26 November 1999.Google Scholar
12. Grunfeld, A, Ho, K, Walls, R: Introduction a l'internet pour les medecins d'urgence: Premiere partie. The Internet in Emergency Medicine The Journal of Emergency Medicine 1996:14(6):802–802.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13. Field, MJ: Telemedicine: A Guide to Assessing Telecommunication For Health Care. Natuional Academic Press. Washington, DC, 1996.Google Scholar
14. Foege, WH: Public health aspects of disaster management. In: Last, JM (ed): Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Norwalk, Conn: Appleton-Century-Crofts. 1986.Google Scholar
15. Emergency Management Australia (EMA): Australian Emergency Manual: Disaster Medicine. Australia. 1995.Google Scholar
16. Noji, E (ed): The Consequences of Disasters on Public Health. Oxford University Press. 1997.Google Scholar
17. Parasuraman, S, Unnikrishnan, PV (eds): India Disasters Report—Towards a Policy Initiative. Oxford University Press. 2000.Google Scholar
18. Chrishna, V: Telecommunications infrastructure—A long way to go. Economic and Political Weekly November 20-26, 1999.Google Scholar
19.Kienzle, , Michael, : What is Telemedicine? Available at http://telemed.medicine.uiowa.edu/TRCDocs/whats.html. Accessed 22 November 2004.Google Scholar
20.Texas Tech University Center for Telemedicine Website. Available at http://www.ttuhsc.edu/telemedicine/Accessed 22 November 2004.Google Scholar