WATSAN and Public Health in Hydro-Climatic Disasters

Water, sanitation and hygiene are vital components for the health and development of any community. They can be attributed as fundamental aspects of Right to Health. Whenever a disaster occurs the availability of safe and potable water and a dependable sanitation system becomes priority for that community. Many water-borne, and vector borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, malaria, dengue and chikungunya can easily be countered with the simple measures of using safe water and having good sanitation facilities available during disasters. In today’s world of scientific and technological superiority the onus of provision of such necessities lies on the authorities for safeguarding the health interest of the community. Burden of diseases spreading due to unavailability of safe water and unsafe sanitation practices increases the impact of any disasters with more problems in the vulnerable groups of the community. Phenomenon of climate change is also affecting the occurrence of hydroclimatic disasters. An outline of this chapter consists of types of communicable diseases, response to such problems and to manage various diseases spreading in such circumstances. Impact over health facilities will also be discussed and hydroclimatic disasters will be looked through public health perspective as well. Certain suggestions in order to get the better mitigation will also be investigated during the discussion.