Disease control and reduction depend on early detection for which an epidemiological surveillance system for emergencies and disasters is required. This will continuously monitor any kind of event in the area and will establish appropriate interventions.

Access to safe water in the disaster zone has a definitive impact on the health of the affected population. For that reason operating plans developed in the preparedness stage should be put into motion. This first of all requires a damage assessment and needs analysis (DANA) of water and sanitation systems.

The DANA will be used to make a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the functioning and operability of systems and services, and to define measures needed for the systems’ rapid recovery, as well as possible ways of providing alternatives to the affected population while service is recovered.

From the public health perspective, urgent measures should be put in place to reduce the exposure of the population at refuge sites to risk factors for their health, namely:

• Timely evaluation to determine conditions where people are living, to ascertain needs, and to take necessary corrective action.
• Acting to guarantee a safe water supply and basic environmental sanitation.
• Organizing the community at the refuge so that it assumes responsibilities for operating the site.
• Health care in the form of primary care, preventive medicine, surveillance of communicable diseases, and health promotion.
• Mental health: detection and early care of mental health problems.

The aftermath of emergencies and disasters can produce psychosocial disturbances that sometimes exceed a population’s capacity to manage or cope. The victims themselves are not the only ones affected. Health workers, search and rescue groups and other first responders, volunteers, and others who assist in response efforts also are often subjected to an enormous emotional burden in carrying out their tasks.

Many populations with special needs require pre-established measures to lessen the impact of disasters and emergencies. Developing Due to the amount of preparation that they require, most of these measures should be defined and prepared for in normal times. They also require active participation by family members and community. In disaster situations, care should be taken to treat people with special needs in the differentiated ways called for, namely:

• Persons with visual disabilities: Ensure that they receive guidance, and facilitate their access to safety and assistance. Remember that it may be necessary to include guide dogs in assistance plans.

In disaster situations, the priority is to provide food rapidly to address critical needs that may arise in isolated populations, institutions, hospitals, temporary shelters, or other situations. For this purpose:

In disaster situations, societies can undergo disorganization and a weakening of the social standards that regulate behavior, creating situations where people are more exposed to HIV/AIDS. In addition, poor living conditions and difficulty in accessing services are factors that increase the vulnerability of people who are already carriers.

From the standpoint of health, a gender perspective to disaster response and humanitarian assistance should be taken into account in certain activities.