Question

Instructions
Write a paper with a least 3 sources.  

Answer the following questions using APA citations and references:

1. List and a brief explanation of the five (5) guiding principles that are needed for an effective emergency response plan.

Prevention
Protection
Mitigation
Response
Recovery
2. List and what are the roles and responsibilities of households (individual and family), communities, and NGOs in a public health emergency.

Answer 1

1. The emergency response should comprise of following foundations.

(a) Prevention - Identification of potential risks to the given scenario is the first step towards charting out an emergency response. Origin of risk as well as and the means of nipping it in bud also need to be found out and analysed so that the risk can be eliminated at source itself. For example, a weak cyber security system needs to be replaced with a robust one, if the organisation is vulnerable to cyber attacks and one such attack may cause huge impact of the company's operations. In another example, the population of a region vulnerable to yellow fever needs to be immunised to tackle an outbreak with more effectiveness.

(b) Protection - Beyond preventive measures, preparedness for emergency is always important. For emergencies which are not possible to prevent, or which surpass the barrier of prevention, protection is necessary to minimise the impact of the threat. For example, keeping the affected persons under quarantine and following of guidelines may help to protect the healthy population during a epidemic.

(c) Mitigation - This relates to the steps taken in order to minimise the impact of the calamity. The mitigation can be done by keeping the stock of medicines, getting insurance for the population, keeping healthcare facilities and professionals ready to cope up with challenges.

(d) Response - This refers to the promptness and effectiveness i combating the emergency situation. It calls for management of time, people, money and other resources to respond to the situation, minimise the adverse effects and maximising the efforts to keep the situation under control.

(e) Recovery - The final step is to help the system to recover once the emergency is contained. The steps of recovery include assessment of damages, rehabilitation of people and resurrecting of infrastructure with help of Govt. agencies, NGOs, self help groups, volunteers and private bodies.

2. The most crucial function during a public health emergency is to create awareness about the healthcare issue ( diseases, epidemic its symptoms, preventive measures,precautions for prevention etc) among the masses. This should start from the family level and reach to communities through leaders who can influence the masses to check the spread of disease through use of common sense and little precaution. The well to do members from the community may contribute for the cause in form of money, commodities, medicines, utilities, while the youngsters can volunteer for the cause, taking the affected people to the healthcare facilities, co ordinate with authorities to ensure cleanliness and checking the source of the disease. NGOs can come up with help in form of medicines, services of healthcare professionals, volunteers, vehicles and ambulance facilities for transportation of affected. NGOs can also construct makeshift healthcare centres at remote and far flung areas to attend  those areas. Private bodies, industrial organisations and individuals can contribute with money and resources, which can be of immense help in these situations.