The first research-appraisal on ‘Post-Disaster’s Epidemiological Susceptibility & Pandemic Outbreaks (Post-DESPO) assessment prepared by UNESCO adjoined SAIRI Research Initiative, Pakistan, has been recognized by the UN, and in retrospect, is befitted to be formally adopted as a principal operative-modality in the UN led DRR missions and Post-HFA frameworks.
The cutting-edge concepts of pre-birth multiple disabilities risk assessment, embryonic toxicity and teratogenic proneness factor analysis among pregnant women and the disability+pregnancy inclusive special protocols in cataclysmic emergencies and DRR modus of executional frameworks, are the core-focus of DESPO. DESPO’s DRR modus-operandi,
DESPO appraisal entails the technical aspects of the aftermath consequences of the post-disastrous pandemic pronenesses. The Post-DESPO report has identified major indicators of pandemic outbreaks and multiple epidemiological proneness, encircling the topics like diarrheal diseases offshoots directly linked to cell mediated immunity (CMI), mal-nutrition and mal-absorption.
The report also indicates the hardest-hit ‘key marginalized’ ivories, that usually become more demoted and sidelined in emergency situations.
Special attention and considerate alertness must be paid to target the displaced children and the pregnant women, which if not demonstrated aptly, could lead towards grimly severe and far-reaching consequences, cautions the DESPO-DRR appraisal.
The disables, hit by the catastrophic havocs, who have been displaced from their local vicinities, should be compassionately dealt with, and must be taken sympathetic care of.
The DESPO points out that the directives sent by the authorities for the second phase of emergency response, dearth certain methodological facets on technical accounts, that are inevitable to accomplish the set targets concerning the DRR.
Refugees camps or other provisional settlements are the measures that should be taken promptly, and are among the ‘must to be prioritized’ during the first phase of emergency response, mentions further the report.
Impaired absorption of water, electrolytes and minerals, which is often likely to be occurred in such disasters, causes impaired formation of Micelle + C complex, which in turn results in multiple mal-absorption, a complex mechanical abnormality. The presence of either both types of deficiencies, or any one of the above mentioned factors can seriously affect the C.M.I. (cell mediated immunity) leading to pathological complications in small babies, especially in those, below one year.
Coordinated efforts done by the local administration must be coupled with the technical inputs, in view of the emergency, suggests the DESPO report.
Strategies should be devised to face the imminent consequential inevitabilities with a particular focus on the facets often neglected in conventional models of disaster management.
For disables, on account of already being marginalized segments of the society, consideratedmeasures must be ensured, stresses the SAIRI’s principal investigator of DESPO assessments, Prof. Qadhi Aurangzeb Al Hafi. Qadhi Aurangzeb Al Hafi, who had also served as the chief epidemiologist and prime investigatory research-analyst in Asian Tsunami 2004, and maintained technical liaisons with UN, its agencies and other local and international sectors of relevance, is now associated with several institutions in capacity of postdoc principal investigator, including SAARC-DUHS Hydro-toxicology chair and the UNESCO chair of watershed management at PU, which has joined the SAIRI’s DESPO project in a principal research-partnership. Prof. Al Hafi has also headed multiple disabilities risk-factors assessment and disability prevention projects in Sri Lanka and different parts of the world, especially in cataclysmic situations.
DESPO assessment report is aimed to identify the technical facets that have been neglected during the emergency response, and are must to be prioritized in the rehabilitation phase. The UNHCR, UNISDR, WHO, UNICEF and UNESCO and the local governments are amongst the principal stakeholders of the DESPO indicators.
Most of the conventional situation reports and strategic plans on disaster management, cover many technical aspects but essentially lack the integration. DESPO parameters devised by SAIRI, however, follow the holistic approach and are explicitly designed to cover a wide range of topics--from pandemic proneness to contagion predispositions and epidemiological vulnerabilities drivers, and is therefore an important advance in disaster management policy making.
Prof. A. Z. Al-Hafi holds an adept consummate expertise in Pre-DESPO as well as Post-DESPO phases. The Post-DESPO assessment report has been prepared by SAIRI’s research collaboration with the UNESCO chair for watershed management, at PU.
Prof. Dr. Aurangzeb Hafi is an independent multi-disciplinary arch-researcher and a planetary philanthropist, who almost single-handedly kept-paced all major research projects concerning the disability related constituencies, foremostly brought forth and orchestrated the concepts of ‘disability-inclusive and pregnancy-inclusive protocols’ in disasters management policy frameworks, during the first epidemiological assessment appraisals of Tsunami 2004. On account of ‘disability inclusiveness’ trend-settings, Prof. Hafi can justly be credited for pioneering the cutting-edge concepts of pre-birth multiple disabilities risk assessment, embryonic toxicity and teratogenic proneness factor analysis among pregnant women and the disability+pregnancy inclusive special protocols in cataclysmic emergencies and DRR modus of executional frameworks. Prof. Hafi’s DRR modus-operandi afterwards, became recognized internationally, and in retrospect, befitted to be formally adopted as a principal operative-modality in the UN led DRR missions and Post-HFA frameworks.
Related Links:
http://www.brecorder.com/general-news/172/1231628/
http://pirs.edu.pk/?page_id=644
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2381783
http://www.disabled-world.com/news/asia/tsunami-2004.php
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