POST DISASTER GOVERNANCE AND DISEASE SURVEILLANCE FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKE

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Earthquake like other disasters may lead to outbreak. Surveillance is essential in post-disaster phase and governance is crucial for an effective and efficient development and implementation of surveillance system. This manuscript aims to analytically analyse epidemiological surveillance following earthquake in view of its governance.

Materials and Methods: Scoping systematic review was conducted using Pubmed and ScienceDirect, with keywords of epidemiology AND surveillance AND earthquake. Total of 1864 articles from public domains and 52 from other sources obtained and duplicates removed. Primary screening of 1319 articles’ titles and abstracts was done. English published articles in the past ten years were the inclusion criteria and reviewed articles excluded. Secondary screening of 397 articles resulted in 22 articles, included in this manuscript.

Result: Ten countries following earthquakes were reviewed on its governance with the characteristics of participation and transparency, accountability and rule of law as well as non-discrimination and equality. Post earthquake surveillance of diseases included air borne and respiratory disease, vector borne disease, water borne disease, blood borne disease and gastrointestinal tract disease.

Conclusion: Post disaster phase is a sudden burden for government and society with possibility of communicable diseases outbreak. Effective recovery process includes coordination, timeliness and capabilities to monitor and evaluate a surveillance system. Governance comprises of participation government’s transparency, accountability and equality.

Keywords: Epidemiology, governance, surveillance, earthquake