EMPOWERING FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS TO MANAGE DISASTERS AT VILLAGE LEVEL: A LESSON FROM MYSURU, KARNATAKA

Abstract

Sir,
The evidence and statistical data are rich enough to confirm the
changes in global climate which has led to devastating effects on
human health.1 An increase in the occurrence of natural disasters is
being attributed to the climate change.2 India is vulnerable to many
natural disasters due to its unique geological and climatic
characteristics. The country has witnessed manmade disasters of
varying intensities from time to time.3 As the incidence of disasters
and the number of people residing in disaster-prone areas are
increasing substantially, the public health system has to arrive at
sustainable solutions to increase the preparedness and manage the
emergencies efficiently. The National Disaster Management Authority
in the country proposes the development of Village Disaster
Management Plans for each locality where frontline health workers
like ASHAs and ANMs play a major role of stakeholders.4 However,
most of the Accredited Social Health Activists in the state have not
received any formal training to manage disasters. In the background of
the devastating floods and landslides occurred in the neighbouring
districts in 2018, a training program was arranged for 40 ASHAs in the
field practice areas of a medical college in Mysuru in July 2019 to
improve the preparedness and raise the awareness about disaster
management. The district was affected by an unexpected event of
floods almost one month after the training programme and 7 of the
ASHAs trained were actively involved in various flood relief
activities. We are attempting to narrate the benefits they could achieve
by getting training in disaster management before the event.