Assignment Prompt
Watch the "Diary of Medical Mission Trip" videos dealing with the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Reflect on this natural disaster by answering the following questions: 1. Propose one example of a nursing intervention related to the disaster from each of the following levels: primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention. Provide innovative examples that have not been discussed by previous students. 2. Under which phase of the disaster do the three proposed interventions fall? Explain why you chose that phase. 3. What people or agencies would you work with in facilitating the proposed interventions and why?
1. Propose one example of a nursing intervention related to the disaster from each of the following levels: primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention. Provide innovative examples that have not been discussed by previous students.
Primary prevention aims at preventing the condition before it occurs (Kisling Kisling & Das, 2022). The primary intervention would involve providing the communities with immunizations for conditions such as tetanus and hepatitis B. It will also involve educating the victims on nutrition and proper hygiene practices that improve their health in general. Though earthquakes are natural disasters, it is necessary to be prepared in case one occurs. According to the transcript, supplies were delayed. It is necessary to exercise secondary prevention strategies such as making available supply kits and this would curb the shortage of the supplies. Additionally, it is necessary to have guidelines on how to construct buildings that can withstand earthquakes. Tertiary prevention focuses on managing the impacts of earthquakes. In the case of the earthquake, tertiary prevention would involve conducting follow-ups on the physical, spiritual, and mental health of the victims. The follow-up will also involve the rehabilitation of the lost resources (Kisling isling & Das, 2022).
2. Under which phase of the disaster do the three proposed interventions fall? Explain why you chose that phase.
The interventions that I have outlined will fall under the post-impact stage of a disaster. I have chosen this phase as now that the earthquake has happened, it is necessary to minimize the impact of another one that may occur (UNESCO, 2023). Additionally, another reason why I have chosen this phase is that I would like to determine how, if I were part of the team, I could have managed the disaster.
3. What people or agencies would you work with in facilitating the proposed interventions and why?
In implementing these interventions, I would collaborate with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), agencies that manage emergencies, and government and Non-Governmental Organizations. Some of the organizations I would like to partner with are the American Red Cross, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
References
- Kisling, L. A., & Das, J. M. (2022). Prevention strategies. In StatPearls [internet]. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537222/
- UNESCO. (2023). Post-disaster response. https://www.unesco.org/en/disaster-risk-reduction/post-disaster
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