Abstract

RODRIGUEZ SALVA1, Armando  and  TERRY BERRO2 , Blanca. Social communication, preparedness and mitigation of disasters: A vision for the future. Rev Cubana Hig Epidemiol [online]. 2006, vol.44, n.2. ISSN 0253-1751.

Communication for prevention is a complex process requiring actions by professionals and general population as well, where the communication expert is the key. Education is focused not only on the development of immediate measures to be taken after the event but on the work carried out before that time, to consolidate unstable sites and to persuade the population to lower the risk levels that they are willing to accept. Observation of the health effects of a disaster on the populations allows setting intervention areas and defining immediate actions. The use of surveys and the initial evaluation served to identify in a practical way the needs of affected communities; however, the setting up of health surveillance systems and the social communication are the main applications of the epidemiological method in practice. The inter-disciplinary nature of epidemiology makes it possible to go beyond the simple addition of concepts and practices in epidemiological surveillance to provide a comprehensive summary of practices in specific topics such as environmental health, medical services and vector control before, during and after the disaster. The present paper offered a tool for professionals working in cooperation missions so that they can improve the efficiency and quality of their assistance, and thus make a significant change in the life of those persons affected by disasters.

Keywords : Social communication; health education; natural disasters; environmental health; epidemiological surveillance.

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