Disaster Reports Number 2: Jamaica, St. Vincent, and Dominica (Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS), 1982, 93 p.): Annex A - Control of infectious diseases following natural disasters: 3. the third element is the immediate resumption or the strengthening of routine public health programs

Disaster Reports Number 2: Jamaica, St. Vincent, and Dominica (Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS), 1982, 93 p.)

Annex A - Control of infectious diseases following natural disasters

		(introduction...)
		1. Epidemiologic surveillance
		2. The most immediate effect of most disasters is on environmental health
		3. the third element is the immediate resumption or the strengthening of routine public health programs

3. the third element is the immediate resumption or the strengthening of routine public health programs

3. THE THIRD ELEMENT IS THE IMMEDIATE RESUMPTION OR THE STRENGTHENING OF ROUTINE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS program; anti-malaria activities or yellow fever control programs; water quality; food quality; drug quality; veterinary public health or sanitary inspection can also be considered here.

These programs are designed to protect the health of people in normal times and to prevent unnecessary disease. In times of disaster, when so many more influences are threatening their importance is ever greater. Unfortunately it is often from these programs that personnel is drawn for so called relief-programs, thereby leaving the public vulnerable. An additional problem is that many people in these programs do not feel they are fulfilling essential Jobs in disasterrelief. They are supposed to continue their routine activities but many want to Join special disaster forces which probably have more glamour but are less effective.