Overview

With the pressure of climate change, environmental degradation, and urbanisation as well as the widening of socioeconomic disparities, the global population is becoming increasingly vulnerable to the impact of natural disasters. With a primary focus on humanitarian response to disasters across Asia, Public Health Principles in Disaster and Medical Humanitarian Response provides a critical analysis of public health responses to natural disasters. Using a number of case studies and examples of innovative disaster response measures developed by international agencies, this book illustrates how theoretical understanding of public health issues can be practically applied in the context of humanitarian relief response. Starting with an introduction to public health principles within the context of medical and public health disaster and humanitarian response, the book goes on to explore key trends, threats and challenges in contemporary disaster medical response. This introductory textbook provides a comprehensive overview of an emergent discipline and offers a unique multidisciplinary perspective across a range of relevant topics including the concepts of disaster preparedness and resilience, and key challenges in human health needs for 21st Century. This book will be of interest to students of public health, disaster and emergency medicine and development studies, as well as to development and medical practitioners working within NGOs, development agencies, health authorities and public administration.