Readiness to Public Health Emergency among Local Government Organizations under the Catchment Areas of the Offce of Disease Prevention and Control I, Bangkok

Abstract

The need for national preparedness and response plan for public health emergency in Thailand was recognized in various evaluation. This mixed method study was to assess readiness in public health emergency management (PHEM) of municipal government, in catchment areas of Offce of Disease Prevention and Control I. Management and staff levels working at 51 municipal governments in 3 provinces, namely Ayutthaya; Nonthaburi and Pathumthani, were interviewed about their PHEM and operation of disaster preparedness. Quantitative data on implementation evaluation according to PHEM guidelines of Ministry of Public Health were also analyzed in the study. The most 3 concerned disasters were found to be fre hazard, flood and road accident. During the last year, 100% of all 51 Local Governments had training in disaster response plan and practice, 84.3% had training in chemical disaster and risk communication, and 82.4% had training in rescue. Training need was found to be the surveillance of Public Health emergency. PHEM Policy, Emergency plan and budget were considered satisfed, however, personnel with knowledge and skill in PHEM in local governments were considered inadequate. The evaluation in the study found that most local government had less experience in disaster response. Recognition and participation of the community in surveillance of disaster, diseases and hazards, including self prevention of diseases and hazards were still lacking. Roles of Public Health Emergency Response among local government staff should be clarifed, in addition to capacity building in disease and hazard prevention and control, and containment of communicable diseases.