Typhoon Haiyan

On November 2013, a devastating crisis occurred in the Philippines as Typhoon Haiyan struck its eastern region (CNN, 2013). The super typhoon displaced over 650,000 individuals nationwide and killed over 10,000 people (World in Brief, 2013). There were over thousands injured and missing and dead bodies were being collected throughout the streets (CNN, 2013). To provide an even impeccable number of those affected, an estimated 9-13 million were affected including 44 provinces, 536 municipalities and 55 cities (CNN, 2013). A country already having limited resources and poor health services, the Philippines truly suffered from this disaster.

Located in Asia, the Philippines is comprised of over 7000 islands and is home to over 90 million people (World Health Organization [WHO], 2011). Due to its geographical region, the Philippines experiences an average of over 20 typhoons annually, in addition to earthquake and volcanic eruptions (WHO, 2011). In relation to healthcare, the Philippines has increasingly developed its healthcare resources and services for its inhabitants. The nation mandated that healthcare facilities have Emergency preparedness plans and crisis management due to its lack of preparedness and organization (WHO, 2011). Despite these recent developments, the Philippines is still barred by inequity and a lack of resources (WHO, 2011). Individuals are struck with social and financial barriers to meet their healthcare needs (WHO, 2011). Furthermore, health services have had a negative impact upon the vulnerable (children and elderly) and communicable diseases are still prominent and rising (WHO, 2011).

In an effort to respond to this crisis, nurses from the United States, Japan, and parts of the Philippines traveled to aid those in need (World in Brief, 2013). The United Kingdom also aided the Philippines in this disaster (CNN, 2013). Despite the assistance provided by several countries, the destruction of hospitals and medical centers made it difficult to treat those in nearby areas (World in Brief, 2013).

Being a healthcare provider during this event, I would have definitely considered the impact that this typhoon had on its individuals. The limited resources and lack of healthcare access make it even more difficult to provide care for those injured. During a disaster like this, I would prioritize my duties in saving those who have not been affected and tending to the individuals who have been injured. In relation to a future disaster, I do believe that the Philippines is more ready because fighting through one like this has made some implications for future disasters.

References

CNN. (2013). Philippines typhoon disaster: Caring for the living, tending to the dead. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/16/world/asia/typhoon-haiyan/

World Health Organization. (2011). The Philippines health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 1(2), 1-127. Retrieved from http://www.wpro.who.int/asia_pacific_observatory/Philippines_Health_System_Review.pdf

World in Brief (2013). Nurses give post-typhoon help to Philippines. Nursing Standard, 28(11), 12. http://dx.doi.org/10.7748/ns2013.11.28.11.12.s13