Disasters cause loss of life and property and impede human development. Each year they cost between $300-500 billion globally, with poor countries bearing the brunt of these devastating effects (UNDP, 2018). Human health and wellbeing are at the core of any disaster situation; shock and stress of hazards have direct repercussions for their victims’ wellbeing, with survivors struggling to adapt or recover (Rodriguez et al. 2017).
The global community has recognized the significance of health in disasters by including it both as an outcome and goal in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policies and frameworks. For instance, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 contains more than 30 explicit references to health than did its predecessor – Hyogo Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR, 2015).
Though many healthcare professionals acknowledge the significance of disaster risk reduction (DRR) into healthcare and health systems, they frequently lack the skills, knowledge, and tools required for effective implementation. This has given rise to Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (Health-EDRM).
Health-EDRM is a research area focused on exploring the intersection between DRR and healthcare, developing strategies to mitigate disaster risks and increase health system resilience, and engaging stakeholders from diverse fields and disciplines in order to mitigate impacts caused by hazards on human health. It takes an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach as mitigating all hazards on health requires the participation of multiple actors across sectors and disciplines.
This article seeks to explore some of the challenges and opportunities presented when participatory research combines DRR with healthcare to mitigate illness and injury in remote locations, such as South Atlantic islands, Greenland settlements or Canadian northern territories with limited accessibility. Our goal is to highlight a need for new approaches that address unique needs among vulnerable groups while contributing to creating a comprehensive disaster risk reduction agenda for all.
This study uses qualitative evidence synthesis and an overview paper approach to explore some of the key themes that emerge when looking at disaster risk reduction (DRR) healthcare and healthcare in situations of limited accessibility. The findings reveal several factors which affect their effectiveness; including needing a different research approach that prioritizes vulnerable population needs in context, more integrated and inclusive DRR in healthcare approaches, as well as greater emphasis on data collection accessibility.
As the global community strives towards its aim of eliminating all deaths caused by natural disasters by 2030, effective links between Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and healthcare are increasingly crucial. This article contributes to this understanding by offering practical recommendations and suggestions for action. Aitsi-Selmi, A. V. Murray, S Egawa and C Wannous (2018) “Healthy Disasters: Enhancing Human Resilience Building Capacity and Improving Health Outcomes.” International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 6(2):164-176.