Surveillance and Disaster Management: Reflective Learning Journal

This is a student's reflection on surveillance and disaster management, discussing psychosocial aspects of disasters, disaster management frameworks, case studies, public health, and refugee health. The reflection highlights the importance of understanding psychosocial responses to disasters, the role of disaster epidemiology in informing response capabilities, and the integration of health into disaster risk reduction strategies. The student emphasizes the practical application of these concepts in assessing needs, interpreting surveillance data, and implementing effective responses during emergencies. The reflection also touches upon the management of animal-related disasters and the impact of geographical and human disasters, including biological attacks and air disasters. The student finds that the unit enhanced their knowledge with better theoretical and practical understanding which can be used in future professional settings. Desklib provides access to similar solved assignments and past papers for students.

Running head: SURVEILLANCE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Surveillance and Disaster Management
Name of Student:
Name of College:
Authors Note:
1

SURVEILLANCE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Reflection
In this unit I have learned various aspects of Surveillance and Disaster planning such as in
psychosocial aspects of disasters I came to understand that responding to disaster experiences for
various groups varies with complexity in terms of individual group’s responses. These are
dependent on variables that includes nature of disaster, characteristic of vulnerable group’s
exposure to the disaster, individual health and mental condition and nature of trauma in which
the vulnerable group find themselves (Malilay et al. 2014). Also from studies of various case
studies I got a deeper understanding of the fact that signs of disaster linked stress varies among
individuals and people generally show various responses as a function of their recovery phase
after the disaster period. Also from various psychosocial disaster management concepts I found
that beyond the recognition of psychological responses the availability and suitability of
psychological and psycho-educational involvements plays a vital role in course of psychological
recovery. Also while learning the different concepts of disaster management framework I
developed the idea that interventions to solve disasters is mainly based on policies which are
dependent on emergency management and response systems. And I found that most of these
approaches to emergency management and control include multidimensional efforts to minimize
vulnerability to disasters, to reduce the implications to hazards and to prepare for, respond and
recover eventually (Dar, Buckley, Rokadiya, Huda & Abrahams 2014). Also during the course of
my study I realized that disaster epidemiology if integrated into disaster management cycle can
offer evidence base to inform and improve response capabilities for public and refugee health
with better health infrastructure, improved preparedness and response to emergency in context of
immense impacts of disasters. I found that with application of epidemiology in disaster situations
more actionable information can be offered for use of policy makers, decision makers, planners
and affected community groups.
The concepts learned will be useful in my future professional setting particularly in assessing the
needs that surrounds disaster management with better interpretation of surveillance, tracking and
research, assessment and implementation of responses in event of emergency or disaster. These
concepts and learning’s will assist me in capable decision making helping me to characterize
incidents on situational awareness and their impact on public health, animal and geographical
2

SURVEILLANCE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
disasters. Such understanding will help me to develop targeted actions and intervention planning
that could be applied based on severity of post-disaster injuries or illness to make effective
response management to control situations. Overall the unit has helped me enhance my
knowledge with better theoretical and practical understanding.
References
Dar, O., Buckley, E. J., Rokadiya, S., Huda, Q., & Abrahams, J. (2014). Integrating health into
disaster risk reduction strategies: Key considerations for success. American Journal of
Public Health, 104(10), 1811-6. Retrieved from
https://search.proquest.com/docview/1564433158?accountid=30552 [Accessed on 28
Oct. 2018]
Malilay, J., Heumann, M., Perrotta, D., Wolkin, A. F., Schnall, A. H., Podgornik, M. N., . . .
Simms, E. F. (2014). The role of applied epidemiology methods in the disaster
management cycle. American Journal of Public Health, 104(11), 2092-102. Retrieved
from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1619996862?accountid=30552 [Accessed on
28 Oct. 2018]
3