Reducing Disaster Exacerbated Non-communicable Diseases Through Public Health Infrastructure Resilience: Perspectives of Australian Disaster Service Providers

This article explores the role of disaster responders, coordinators and government officials in mitigating and preventing the increased risk of non-communicable disease exacerbation during a disaster. They play a critical part in supporting the public health service infrastructure required to maximise treatment and care for people with non-communicable diseases.

The research found a relationship between the impact of a disaster on public health service infrastructure and increased health risks for people with non-communicable diseases. Mitigation strategies are described for all phases of the disaster cycle impacting public health service infrastructure. A common theme is that having accurate and easily accessible data on people with non-communicable diseases would allow disaster service providers to effectively prepare for and respond to medical needs during a disaster.

Disaster service providers need to become integrated into the health sector during non-disaster periods and risk mitigation strategies should be integrated into business and strategic plans.