Full Answer Section

Disaster Scenario: A large-scale fire sweeps through a significant portion of Mathare, destroying homes, displacing residents, and damaging local infrastructure, including a community clinic and water distribution points.

1. Disaster Recovery Plan:

Goal: To reduce health disparities and improve access to essential community services for the residents of Mathare in the aftermath of the fire, with a focus on vulnerable populations.

Healthy People 2030 Objectives (Relevant Examples):

• EH01: Reduce exposure to very unhealthy air. (Related to smoke inhalation and rebuilding with safer materials).
• HC/HWS-01: Increase the proportion of persons with health insurance. (Relevant for accessing ongoing care).
• A01: Increase the proportion of adults with a usual primary care provider. (Relevant for continuity of care post-disaster).
• SH-01: Reduce the suicide rate. (Relevant for addressing psychological trauma).
• IID-01: Reduce the number of new HIV infections. (Relevant for ensuring continuity of care for PLHIV).

a) Assess Community Needs (Post-Fire):

• Immediate Needs (Days 1-7):
  • Shelter: Number of displaced individuals and families.
  • Basic Needs: Food, clean water, sanitation facilities (temporary latrines), hygiene supplies (soap, menstrual hygiene products).
  • Medical Needs: Assessment of injuries (burns, respiratory issues), exacerbation of pre-existing conditions, mental health crisis (trauma, grief).
  • Safety and Security: Ensuring protection from further hazards and potential crime.
• Short-Term Needs (Weeks 1-4):
  • Temporary Housing: More stable temporary shelters.
  • Restoration of Essential Services: Repairing water and sanitation infrastructure, establishing temporary healthcare facilities.
  • Mental Health Support: Counseling and psychological first aid for trauma and loss.
  • Disease Surveillance: Monitoring for outbreaks of waterborne and respiratory illnesses.
  • Nutritional Support: Ensuring continued access to adequate and nutritious food.
• Long-Term Needs (Months 1-12+):
  • Permanent Housing: Planning and rebuilding efforts with safer and more resilient materials.
  • Restoration of Healthcare Services: Rebuilding or establishing permanent healthcare facilities with adequate resources.
  • Economic Recovery: Supporting livelihoods and employment opportunities.
  • Social Recovery: Strengthening community networks and addressing long-term psychological and social impacts.
  • Addressing Underlying Vulnerabilities: Implementing programs to improve access to education, economic opportunities, and healthcare to reduce pre-existing health disparities.

b) Consider Resources, Personnel, Budget, and Community Makeup:

• Resources:
  • Local: Existing community leaders, local NGOs (faith-based organizations, community health workers), surviving infrastructure (schools, community centers for temporary shelter), local businesses willing to donate supplies.
  • External: National government disaster response agencies, international NGOs (UNICEF, Red Cross), humanitarian aid organizations, potential donations (financial, in-kind).
• Personnel:
  • Accountable Leaders:
    • Local Disaster Response Committee (newly formed/existing): Overall coordination, needs assessment, resource allocation. Led by designated community leaders and representatives from key sectors (health, security, community welfare).
    • Health Cluster Lead (Designated Senior Nurse/Public Health Officer): Coordination of all health-related activities, including medical care, disease surveillance, and mental health support.
    • Shelter and Basic Needs Coordinator (Community Welfare Officer/NGO Representative): Overseeing the provision of shelter, food, water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies.
    • Community Engagement and Communication Lead (Local Communicator/Community Health Worker Supervisor): Responsible for information gathering, dissemination, and feedback mechanisms.
  • Supporting Personnel: Community health workers (CHWs), nurses, doctors (volunteers/deployed), mental health professionals (counselors, social workers), sanitation workers, security personnel, logistics coordinators, data collectors.
• Budget:
  • Immediate: Reallocation of local emergency funds, initial aid from national government and NGOs, community contributions.
  • Short-Term and Long-Term: Appeals to national and international donors, fundraising initiatives, potential government grants, leveraging existing health program budgets for post-disaster recovery.
• Community Makeup:
  • Vulnerable Populations: Targeted outreach and tailored services for women-headed households, orphans, individuals with disabilities, those with chronic illnesses (HIV/AIDS, TB, respiratory), and the elderly.
  • Cultural Considerations: Ensuring communication and services are culturally appropriate and respectful. Utilizing local languages and engaging with traditional healers and community influencers.
  • Literacy Levels: Employing diverse communication methods beyond written materials (e.g., visual aids, audio messages, community meetings).

c) Identify Accountable People and Their Roles:

• Local Disaster Response Committee:
  • Chairperson (Respected Community Leader): Overall leadership, convening meetings, liaison with external agencies, ensuring accountability.
  • Health Cluster Lead (Senior Nurse/Public Health Officer): Overseeing health needs assessments, coordinating medical teams, managing temporary clinics, implementing disease surveillance, ensuring access to medications and supplies, organizing mental health support.
  • Shelter and Basic Needs Coordinator (Community Welfare Officer/NGO Representative): Identifying and managing temporary shelter sites, coordinating the distribution of food, water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene supplies, managing volunteer efforts for basic needs provision.
  • Community Engagement and Communication Lead (Local Communicator/CHW Supervisor): Establishing communication channels within the community, gathering information on needs and rumors, disseminating accurate information about services and safety, managing feedback mechanisms, working with media (if applicable).
  • Security Liaison (Local Law Enforcement/Community Watch Representative): Ensuring safety and security at distribution points, temporary shelters, and healthcare facilities, coordinating with security forces.
  • Logistics Coordinator (Experienced Community Member/Volunteer): Managing the storage and transportation of supplies, coordinating the movement of personnel.
• Community Health Workers (CHWs): Conduct initial needs assessments, provide basic first aid, disseminate health information, conduct follow-up care, connect individuals with services, provide psychosocial support.
• Nurses and Doctors: Staff temporary clinics, treat injuries and illnesses, manage chronic conditions, provide immunizations (if needed), and refer complex cases.
• Mental Health Professionals: Provide psychological first aid, counseling, and support for trauma and grief.

d) Timeline for the Recovery Effort:

• Immediate Response (Days 1-7):
  • Activate Local Disaster Response Committee.
  • Rapid needs assessment (shelter, food, water, immediate medical needs).
  • Establish temporary shelter sites.
  • Distribute emergency food and water supplies.
  • Set up basic first aid stations staffed by CHWs and volunteer nurses.
  • Initiate community-based disease surveillance (reporting of symptoms).
  • Begin psychological first aid outreach by CHWs.
• Short-Term Recovery (Weeks 1-4):
  • Establish coordinated health cluster meetings.
  • Set up temporary community clinics with regular staffing by nurses and visiting doctors.
  • Implement enhanced disease surveillance and reporting systems.
  • Scale up mental health support services with counselors and social workers.
  • Repair or establish temporary water and sanitation facilities.
  • Organize regular distribution of food, hygiene kits, and essential supplies.
  • Begin planning for temporary housing solutions.