Mathew Dolly
School of Social Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India.
Prehosp Disaster Med. 2005 Jan-Feb;20(1):54-60. doi: 10.1017/s1049023x00002156.
This paper highlights the use of information technology (IT) in disaster management and public health management of disasters. Effective health response to disasters will depend on three important lines of action: (1) disaster preparedness; (2) emergency relief; and (3) management of disasters. This is facilitated by the presence of modern communication and space technology, especially the Internet and remote sensing satellites. This has made the use of databases, knowledge bases, geographic information systems (GIS), management information systems (MIS), information transfer, and online connectivity possible in the area of disaster management and medicine. This paper suggests a conceptual model called, "The Model for Public Health Management of Disasters for South Asia". This Model visualizes the use of IT in the public health management of disasters by setting up the Health and Disaster Information Network and Internet Community Centers, which will facilitate cooperation among all those in the areas of disaster management and emergency medicine. The suggested infrastructure would benefit the governments, non-government organizations, and institutions working in the areas of disaster and emergency medicine, professionals, the community, and all others associated with disaster management and emergency medicine. The creation of such an infrastructure will enable the rapid transfer of information, data, knowledge, and online connectivity from top officials to the grassroots organizations, and also among these countries regionally. This Model may be debated, modified, and tested further in the field to suit the national and local conditions. It is hoped that this exercise will result in a viable and practical model for use in public health management of disasters by South Asian countries.
本文重点介绍了信息技术在灾害管理和灾害公共卫生管理中的应用。对灾害做出有效的卫生应对将取决于三条重要的行动路线：（1）灾害准备；（2）紧急救援；以及（3）灾害管理。现代通信和空间技术的出现，特别是互联网和遥感卫星，推动了这一进程。这使得在灾害管理和医学领域使用数据库、知识库、地理信息系统（GIS）、管理信息系统（MIS）、信息传输和在线连接成为可能。本文提出了一个名为“南亚灾害公共卫生管理模型”的概念模型。该模型通过建立健康与灾害信息网络和互联网社区中心，设想了信息技术在灾害公共卫生管理中的应用，这将促进灾害管理和急诊医学领域所有人员之间的合作。所建议的基础设施将使政府、非政府组织以及从事灾害和急诊医学领域工作的机构、专业人员、社区以及所有与灾害管理和急诊医学相关的其他各方受益。创建这样的基础设施将使信息、数据、知识能够迅速从高层官员传递到基层组织，并且在这些国家之间进行区域传递。该模型可能会在实地进一步展开讨论、修改和测试，以适应国家和地方的情况。希望通过这项工作能形成一个可行且实用的模型，供南亚国家用于灾害公共卫生管理。
