Managing Emerging Diseases and Disasters in India.

(International Congress of Medical Librarians, Brisbane, Australia, 2009)

by

Dr. Anjana ChattopadhyayDirector, National Medical Library,

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,Ansari Nagar, Ring Road, New Delhi-110029.

anjanachattopadhyay@yahoo.com

Asia is the Most Vulnerable Region to Natural Disasters.

The world has been facing series of devastating disastersover the years.Asia is the most disaster prone continent in the world ascompared to other continents.Over population and indiscriminate exploitation ofnatural resources creates many unexpected natural aswell as man made disasters.In 2008, more than 2,35,000 people were killed, 214Million people were affected and financial loss of 190Billion US$ were incurred due to natural disasters aroundthe globe.

Natural Disaster

No. of Causality

Financial Damage Source: Annual Disaster Statistical Review, 2008, CRED, Brussels, Belgium.

Source: Annual Disaster Statistical Review, 2008, CRED, Brussels, Belgium.

Number of Disasters, Casualty and Financial Loss incurred (in Millions)

N o . o f D i s a s t e r s N o . o f C a s u a l i t y Fi n a n c i a l D a m a g e

A f ric a A me ric a A s ia Euro p e Oc e ania

Natural Disaster Classification.Hydro-Meteorological

Flood

Mass Movement

Storm

Extreme Temperature

Drought

Wild Fire

Rock fallLandslides

Rock FallLandslides

ViralBacterialFungalParasitic

Earthquake

Volcano

Mass movement

Epidemic

Insect Infestation

Animal Infection

Geological Biological

India is the Epicenter of Natural Disasters in Asia.

Due to vulnerable geographical position of the country.

Adverse climatic conditions.

It faces recurrent severe natural disasters such as flood, draught,earthquake, cyclone, landside and Tsunami.It is further compounded by unplanned urbanization, andenvironmental exploitation.The Government of India is taking several measures on priority basisto reduce the risk of unforeseen and sudden disasters.

India is the Epicenter of Natural Disasters in Asia.

Flood in India.

Out of total geographical area of 329 million hectare ofland, more than 40 million hectare is prone to flood.On an average, 75 Lakh hectare of land get flood affectedcausing loss of more than 1600 (approx) lives annually.Flood makes biggest impact upon the socio-economicconditions of the country and renders many peoplehomeless.It also makes heavy agricultural loss in developingcountries.Weaker sections of the society are worst affected.

Areas Effected by Flood

Vulnerability to Cyclone

India has a coast line of about 8,000 km, which makes itvulnerable to frequent cyclone from Arabian Sea and theBay of Bengal.

It faces heavy loss of lives and property every year due tohigh speed cyclone.

Many buildings and infrastructure establishments arewhipped off by the devastating cyclone in countrieslocated at the periphery of Bay of Bengal.

Tsunami Prone Areas of India.

Earthquakes in India

Earthquakes of high intensity in densely populated regionscause high loss to lives and injuries to large number ofpeople.Over 29% of India’s geographical area falls under the veryhigh risk seismic zone, including the category of V (10.9%)and category IV (17.3%) seismic zones.Government of India released New Building Codes forearthquake resistant buildings. New code is mandatory forall new buildings.Devastating Earthquake at Bhuj, Gujarat of 2001 is anexample of worst disasters in the world.

High Intensity Earthquake Zones of India.

India Recorded Many High Intensity Earthquakes of the Magnitude Higher than 6.0 Richter Scale Since 1819.

Year Geographical area Intensity magnitude

1819 Kutch, Gujarat 8.0

1869 Near Cachar, Assam 7.5

1885 Sopar, Jummu & Kashmir 7.0

1897 Shillong plateau 8.7

1905 Kangra, Himachal Pradesh 7.6

1918 Srimangal, Assam 7.6

1930 Dhubri, Assam 7.1

1934 Bihar- Nepal Border 8.3

1941 Andaman Island 8.1

1943 Assam 7.2

1950 Arunachal Pradesh- China Border 8.5

1956 Anjar, Gujarat 7.0

1967 Koyana, Maharashtra 6.5

1988 Manipur-Myanmar Border 6.6

1991 Uttarakashi, U P Hills 6.6

1999 Champoli, U P 6.8

2001 Bhuj, Gujarat 6.9

Manmade Disaster

Due to excessive growth ofpopulation and indiscriminate useof environment made India anepicenter of industrial andenvironmental disasters.The account of disasters in Indiacannot be complete without themention of following three recentdisasters:

• Bhopal Gas Tragedy, 1984.• Earthquake at Bhuj, Gujarat, 2001.• 2004 Asian Tsunami.

Assessment of Damage Caused by the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, 1984.

It has been recorded as the world’s worst Industrial disaster.

At the midnight of 3.12.1984, leakage of 42 tones toxic gasMethyl Isocyanides (MIC) took place from the UnionCarbide, India Ltd. (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal.

The entire city became a gas chamber for death.

It Killed over 8,000 –10,000 people with in 72 hrs.

Further death of over 20,000 continued for years.

More than 2,00,000 persons are affected by chemicaldamage and disability among survivors.

Impact of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, 1984.

MIC Gas Emission

Blinded

Spot Death

Birth Defects

Assessment of Damage Caused by the Devastating Earthquake at Bhuj, Gujarat in 2001.

Magnitude of 7.7 Richter scale earthquake took place on the RepublicDay of India, 26.01.2001 at 8.46 a.m.It Killed over 20,000 people.Rendered over 600,000 people homeless.It caused damage of property estimated over 1.8 billions US$.Many residential buildings and school buildings were collapsed.Made severe impact over many historical buildings.Many ancient heritage buildings such as Chatris, Shiva Temple inKutch, Palace of Maharaja of Kutch etc. are seriously damaged.All these buildings had survived 1819 earthquake, almost 200 yearsearlier/ago.

Assessment of Damage Caused by 2004 Asian Tsunami.

2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami caused by India Oceanearthquake or under sea mega thrust earthquake damagedmany South East Asian countries located at the border ofthe Bay of Bengal.It struck on the night of 26.12.2004 causing serious loss tolives and property in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India andThailand.The Andaman Island was the worst affected.Over 2,29,866 people were killed or lost.Over 22,880 people were reported missing.About 11,26,900 people were displaced.As per UN report, it wae the worst earthquake in the sea inthe recorded history.

Record of Loss Recorded by 2004 Asian Tsunami (Country Wise)

CountriesDeath

Missing DisplacedConfirmed Estimated

Indonesia 1, 30,736 1,67,736 37,063 5,00,000

Sri Lanka 35,322 21,411 5,16,150India 12,405 18,045 5640 6,47,599Thailand 5,395 8,2122 2817 7,000

Efforts Taken by India for Mitigation of Disaster.

Eleventh Five Year Plan (2008-2012) made special effortsto develop National Disaster Management and PlanningGuidelines with the help of the Planning Commission.On 23rd December 2005, Indian Parliament approved“Disaster Management Bill 2005”.In 2005, The Disaster Management Act (DMA) was passed.DMA established the National Disaster ManagementAuthority (NDMA).Further State Disaster Management Authorities and DistrictDisaster Management Authorities have been established todeal with the Disaster related problems at the state anddistrict level.DMA also established the National Institute of DisasterManagement.

Government of India Also Started Many Disaster Mitigation Projects under the Authority of NDMA

(National Disaster Management Authority).

National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP).National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project (NERMP).National Flood Risk Mitigation Project (NFRMP).National Landslide Risk Mitigation Project (NLRMP).National School Safety Pilot Project.National Disaster Information and CommunicationNetworks Project.

Emergence and Re-emergence of Diseases are Caused by:

Demographic factors.Increase in population, which cause malnutrition and fall inliving standard.Change in lifestyle.Day care home or crèche are the disease transmissioncenters.Increase in unsafe sex and drug abuse.Increase in old age population, who are vulnerable todiseases.Use of processed and preserved food.Unnecessary use of antimicrobial drugs, cause resistance inbacterial pathogen.

Changes in Technology & Industry Promotes Diseases.

Air conditioning and cooling tower promote transmission ofdisease through their ducts.

Fast food such as hamburger is associated with E.coli0157:H7 strain.

Use of preservatives to increase larger shelf life areassociated with Salmonella and Campylobacter.

Environmental Changes.Indiscriminate use of forest area.Encroaching tropical rain forest, posed risk of emergenceof new hemorrhagic fever.Contact of deer population cause spread of Lyme disease.Development & spread of Avian flu SARS.Increase of mosquitoes cause re-emergence of Dengue.Recent re-emergence & spread of Swine flu across theglobe.

History of Swine Flu.

History of Influenza Pandemics.The influenza pandemic of 1918 also known as “The Spanish Flu” killed 20-40 Million peopleglobally.In the World War I, more soldiers died of flu thanof wounds.Avian Flu (SARS), Bubonic Plague, Dengue andSwine Flu are the best examples of re-emergence ofdiseases.These diseases remained dormant quite for sometime and recently resurfaced in different parts ofthe world.

Historical Record of Flu Pandemics

S.No Year Name of Flu First Detected Region of Spread No. of Deaths1. 1889 Russian Flu China Europe, N. America,

Japan, Latin America1,000,000

2. 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic

United States United States 50 million world wide500,000 in USA

3. 1957 Asian Flu China USA 2000,000 world wide70,000 in USA

4. 1968 Hong Kong Flu Pandemic

Hong Kong USA 34,000

5. 1997 Avian Flu Hong Kong Asia No count

6. 2003 Un named Flu Pandemic

Thailand & Vietnam Asia 34

7. 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic

Mexico City, USA World Wide

Spread of Swine Flu at a Glance

It is Difficult to Prevent Spread of New Diseases due to Modern International Travel & Trade.

Advancement of International Travelfacility has made the World into a globalvillage, which caused easy transmission ofdeadly diseases such as:

• Respiratory infection.• Vector bone agents, West Nile virus • SARS infection through birds.• Swine flu infection .• Food bone diseases through export – import of

food products.• Mad cow disease spread through the export

import of beef.

Microbial Adaptation and Changes.

Over the years many deadly diseases developed drug resistant strains.Development of resistance to infection.Immune suppression of patients.Extensive use of drugs cause resistance to TB & Malaria drugs.

Breakdown of Public Health and Hygiene Standard.

Increase of population cause fall down in the quality of foodand standard of living in developing countries.Food adulteration and use of colour & preservatives.Contamination of drinking water.Unhealthy condition of life in developing countries in slumsand hutment areas.Weaker section of the society in poor countries cannotafford to maintain required standard of living.

Steps to Prevent Emergence of Diseases by:Declaring diseases international epidemic and pandemics.Preventive measure during International Travel to checktransmission of disease through airways.Proper Vaccination.Improvement in sanitation and public Hygiene .Research & Development of antibiotics and microbialmedicine.Use of advance technology for testing and monitoring ofinfections diseases.Culling up of birds.Slaughtering animals causing transmission of deadlyinfectious diseases.

Institutes Working for the Prevention of Diseases in India.

National Institute of Communicable Diseases, New Delhi.Enterovirus Research Centre, Mumbai.Institute of Immunology, Mumbai.National AIDS Research Institute, Pune.National Institute of Cholera & Enteric Diseases, Kolkata.National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi.National Institute of Virology, Pune.Tuberculosis Research Centre, Chennai.

Training for Disaster Preparedness.Many institutes have been developed in India to conduct management training on disaster mitigation and emergency health care.Well framed academic courses as per local need have been developed to enhance professional skills and capability building among local people to handle disasters and diseases in case of emergency.Special training for qualified and experienced professionals in different disaster related fields have been framed.Special courses for following specializations have been started:

Management GroupEngineering GroupMedical and paramedical professionalsTransport and communication professionals.

Role of Librarians to Mitigate the Impact of Disasters and Diseases.

Millions of people die of natural and man made disasters in the world.Perhaps, 2/3 of them can be saved, if proper information and communication is provided at appropriate time to these disaster prone areas.Libraries of these areas can be treated as the hub of Disaster Information Dissemination Centers.It can conduct disaster preparedness training and provide literature for awareness.It can develop collection of literature and facts related to disaster and diseases for providing information resources for Research and Development.Library can compile facts and figures related to the subject matter

Information can Reduce Human Suffering in case of Disaster and Pandemic Diseases.

Library can bring out guidelines related to following essential facilities after the event of disasters.

• Sanitation.• Quality of drinking water.• Preventive guide lines incase of medical emergency.• Availability of medicine, blood and other facilities.• Centre for Telemedicine, to provide specialized medical

treatment at remote areas.• Help in tracing missing relatives.

Conclusion.Early preparedness may save lives in case of disaster and epidemic emergency.Establishing warning system for flood, cyclone, drought might prevent loss of life.In advance disaster preparedness may reduce the sudden havoc and facilitate shelter, drinking water, food and medicine for displaced population.Establishing proper telecommunication system will help to handle disaster and epidemic situation more easily.Right information at right time may save lives of thousands.

List of Institutions Imparting Disaster Preparedness Training and Activities in India

S. No Name Address and Contact Details Ph. /Fax Details

1

Academy for Disaster Management, Education, Planning & Training. (ADEPT)

Add: 403 Block B, Princes Gardens, 40, Thambusamy Road, Chennai –600010, India

www.adeptasia.org.

Ph. 91-44-42602407,Fax: 91-44-42602404

Management: National Lutheran Health & Med Board (NLHMB)Mission: To establish Asia Pacific Disaster Management resource facility & knowledge management.Objective:1. Create database.2. Organize Disaster Management in emergency.3. Training.4. Consultancy.

2

All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI)

411, Sakar Five, Near Nataraj Cinema, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad -380009, Gujarat, India

http://www.southasiadisasters.net.

Ph: 91-79-26586234, 26583607,

Fax: 91-74-26582962.

Management: Government. Established after Bhuj Earthquake. 2001 June.Training: Offer consultancy and policy making in disaster mitigation & prevention.

3

Centre for Disaster Management (CDM)

Yashvantrao Chavan Academy (YASHADA), Rajbhavan Complex, Barner Road, Pune 441007, Maharashtra, India.

http://www.yashada.org

Ph.: 91-20-2560800, Fax: 91-20-25659135

Management - Set up by Yashwant Rao Chavan Academy of Development & Admin, Pune.Training: (i) Organized over 60 training programme.

i i. Organized over 70 workshops.

4

Centre for Disaster, Mitigation and Management (CDMM)

Vellore Instt. Of Technology, Vellore-632014. Tamil Nadu, India.

www.vit.ac.in.

Ph.: 91-416-2243091-93, Fax: 91-416-2243092

Objective:(i) Dissemination of knowledge.(ii) Promote preparedness(iii) Raise public awareness

5

Disaster Management Institute (DMI)

Paryavaran Parisar, E-5 Arera Colony, Bhopal-462016, Madhya Pradesh, India.

http.//dmibpl@bom6.vsnl.net.in.

Ph.: 91-755-2466715, 2461538,

Fax: 91-755-2466653.

Management: Central and State Government.Training: Organise training for working managers & Government officials on prevention,Mitigation and management of disaster.Objective:(i) Prevention, Mitigation & Management of Disaster.(ii) Research, Consultancy and to promote public awareness

S. No Name Address and Contact Details Ph. /Fax Details

6

Environ Protection Training and Res. Institute (EPTRI)

91/4, Gachibowli, Hydrabad-500032, Andhra Pradesh, India.

http://eptri.com

Ph: 91-40-23000469, 23001241, 23001242, Fax: 91-40-23000361

Management: Established in collaboration of Swedish International Development Agency +Process Safety Centre, Indian Instt. Chemical Tech (IICT), Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. Registered under

Societies Act.Objectives:Training, consultancy& conducts research covering environmental issues related to industries.

7

Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA)

Block No. 11, 5th Floor, Udyog Bhawan, Sector 11, Gandhinagar, Gujarat-382017

http://www.gsdma.org.

Management : Started with the initiative of Gujarat Government. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat is theChairperson. Registered under Societies Registration Act.Objective:

To deal with natural disaster.Relief from natural disaster.Make best use of grant from national and international organization.

Speciality: Hazard mapping of :EarthquakeCyclone.Flood.Tsunami.(v) Storm surge.

8

Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management

Sardar Patel Institute of public Administration, Opp: ISRO, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Management: Government.Objective:

TrainingIdentify different target group for training.Offer open and distance training cources.Support to conduct research.(v) Consultancy services.

9

Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS)

Dept. of Space (Government of India), 4, Kalidas Road, Dehradun- 48001, Uttrakhand, India.

www.iirs-nrsa.gov.in.

Ph: 91-(0)135-2524105, Fax: 91-(0)135-2741987

Management: Survey of India, Government of India. IIRS +DGIM (Disaster Geo Information Management, UNUniversity, Netherlands)+CSSTEAP (Centre for Space Sci. & Tech. Education Asia & Pacific).Objective:

To promote excellence in geo-information science.Training: International Training Course on application of Space Tech for Disaster Management support withemphasis on Flood, Risk Management etc. Conduct diploma to ph.d. level courses.

S. No Name Address and Contact Details Ph. /Fax Details

10

Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS)

1, Red Cross Road, New Delhi-11001, India.

www.indianredcross.org.

Ph: 91-11-2371644-43, Fax 91-11-23717454, 23717063.

Management: InternationalTraining: One year Diploma in Disaster Preparedness andRehabilitation through GGSIPU (Guru Govind Singh IndraprasthaUniversity), New Delhi.Objective:

Blood BankDisaster Management Centre.Central Training Institute.Home for disabled service Men in Bangalore.(v) Vocational Training Centre at West Bengal & Tamil Nadu.

11Indira Gandhi National

Open University (IGNOU)

Maidan Garhi, New Delhi. India

www.ignou.ac.inPh: 91-011-29532321, Fax: 91-011-29536588 Management: Under UGC. Govt. of India MHRD.

Training: Six months Diploma on Disaster Management for plustwo/equivalent in collaboration with Pune University.

12Joint Assistance Centre,

Gurgaon (JAC)G-17/3, DLF, QUtab Enclave, Phase I,

Gurgaon-122002, Haryana, India.

www.jacindia.org

Ph.: 91-124-2352741, 2353833, Fax:91-124-2351308

Management: Private set up by All India Voluntary Agency forAssistance in Disaster Situation, 1977 after cyclonedisaster in Andhra in Nov., 1977.

13

National Instt. for Disaster Management (NIDM), IIPA

5 B Indraprastha Estate, Ring Road, New Delhi-110004.

www.nidm.net.

Ph.: 91-11-23702432, 23705583, Fax:91-11-23702442, 23702446

Management: Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.Training:

( i ) Six months training in Disaster Management.( ii ) Also conduct workshop & Seminar and coordinate in

rehablilitation.( iii ) Organised Indian Disaster Management Congress 2006.

Objective:To be the leading centre of excellence in the field of disaster risk

mitigation and management in India.

14

National Information Centre for Earthquake Engineering (NICEE)

Add: Prof. Sudhir Jain, Coordinator, NICEE, Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT, Kanpur-208016, Uttar Pradesh, India

http://www nicee.org.

Ph: 91-0512-2597866, Fax: 91-0512-2597794 Management: IIT, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.Objective:

Publication and dissemination of knowledge related to sesemicstructural design.

Earthquake resistant Civil structural design.PG level course in sesemic design.iv. Distance education through CD.

S. No NameAddress and

Contact Details

Ph. /Fax Details

15

National Civil Defense College

Civil Lines, Nagpur-440001, Maharashtra, India

www.ncdcnagpur.nic.in.

Ph: 91-0712-2565614, 2562611,

Fax: 91-0712-2565614

Management: Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.Objective:

Plan & organize specialized training to enhance skill and generate knowledge for management of response to disasters.Training:

To develop hands on training programme on realistic pattern.Conducted Civil, Defense & Disaster Management Course.(iii) training to handle flood, cyclone, earthquake disaster.

16

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block, New Delhi. Government of India or NDMA, Centure Hotel, Near IGI Airport, New Delhi- 110037.

http:// ndmindia.nic.in.

Fax: 91-011-25655003, Ph: 91-011-23092923, 23093054Fax: 91-011-23092763

Management: Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.Objective:

Disaster preparedness and to increase awareness to manage disasters.Training:

Documentation and database development on disaster.Sate level training on disaster preparedness.(iii) training to handle flood, cyclone, earthquake disaster.

17

National Disaster Management Forum: (Set up by Times of India).

Times Foundation, The Times of India Building, 7 Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002

Ph: 91-011-2330210

18

PRT Institute of Post Graduate Environmental Education & Research, New Delhi.(PRT-1-PEER)

A-16, Paryavaran Complex, South of Saket

www.technologyindia.edu.

Training: 2 year Master of Disaster Control to graduates or working professionals. Degree in collaboration with Instt. ofOpen & Distance Education, Barkatullah University, Bhopal.

19

Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medicine & Tech. Sciences

Tadong, Gangtok Sikkim

www.sikkimmanipal.net.

www.ecology.org.

Training: Masters in Disaster Mitigation for Graduates in collaboration with Indian Institute of Ecology &Environment.

• List of Institutions Imparting Disaster Preparedness Training and Activities in the World• 1. CIDI (Centre for International Disaster Information) works under USAID.• Access: http://www.cidiorg.• 2. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Authority)• Access: http://www.fema.gov.• 3. NDMC (National Drought Mitigation Centre)• Access: http://www.drought.unl.edu.• 4. USAID, US Agency for International Development• Access: http://www.usaid.gov.• 5. IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cross Crecent Societies).• Access: http://www.ifre.org.• 6. Oxfam• Access: http://www.oxfam.org.• 7. ISDR (International Strategy for Disaster Reduction) • Access: http://www.unisdr.org/• 8. Relief Web UN office for coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)• Access: http://www.relief web.int/rw/dbe.nsf/doc100?• 9. UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)• Access: http://www.unchr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home• 10. WHO (World Health Organization)• Access: http://www.who.int/.• Regional Organizations• 1. Africare. US organization assisting Africa.• Access: http://www.africare.org/• 2. ADPC (The Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre)• Access: http://www.adpe.net/.• 3. CRID (The Regional Disaster Information Centre)• Access: http://www.crid.or cr./• 4. Disaster Info.• Access: http://www.disaster-info.net/.• 5. DPPI (Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiatives)• Access: http”//www.dppi.info/index.ut