The vulnerability of mankind to disasters of various types has increased considerably all over the world. The situation in India is not better since 55 per cent of India’s landmass is prone to earthquakes; 68 per cent is vulnerable to drought; 12 per cent to floods; and 8 per cent to cyclones apart from the heat waves, and severe storms. Odisha, one of the developing coastal states of India, with a coastline of around 495 km and a population of about 43 million, is most prone to natural disasters like super cyclones and major floods every year. It has witnessed and suffered a number of super cyclones and floods in the last ten years. Such conditions give rise to various health hazards and diseases. Such an environment demands for a nodal agency which is dedicated towards public health surveillance during disasters in the state of Odisha, India. This paper tries to put forth the goals, requirement and role in setting up a centre for disaster preparedness for preparedness and surveillance during disaster. The paper also discusses various challenges and roadblocks in establishing such an institute.
Objective
To setup a nodal agency called the Centre for Public Health Preparedness (CPHP) dedicated towards public health surveillance during disasters in the state of Odisha, India. For better public health preparedness in disaster management the objectives of CPHP will be to: 1. To strengthen public health surveillance and preparedness for disaster management, through research, capacity building and action. 2. To act as a comprehensive technical support unit and resource centre for State Government of Odisha, India on public health preparedness for disaster management and to eventually provide similar support to other states of India. 3. To collaborate with National Disaster Management Authority to provide support in surveillance, preparedness and capacity building during public health emergencies. 4. To become a national centre of excellence in the area, in due course of time.