Role of Engineers in Resolving Public Health Issues During Natural or Manmade Epidemic Breakout
Role of Engineers in Resolving Public Health Issues During Natural or Manmade Epidemic Breakout
Role of Engineers in Resolving Public Health Issues During Natural or Manmade Epidemic Breakout
Abstract — This paper explains the contribution of engineering and technical skills in safeguarding public health during
humanitarian crisis caused due to natural calamities or man- made disasters such as armed conflicts. Humanitarian crisis is
more complex in urban settings that put greater population at health risk due to epidemic disease breakout. Here we
discussed the role of well-trained engineers who are specialist in water, sanitation, energy supply and environment. This
book explains the link between water, sanitation and hygiene so called WASH activities that reduces mortality and morbidity
in population during disasters.
Keywords — Public Health Engineering; Water Supply System; Sanitation Technology; Excreta Management
1. Introduction
6
DOI: 10.30726/ijmrss/v7.i1.2020.71002
International Journal of Management Research and Social Science (IJMRSS) ISSN 2394-6407(Print)
Volume 7, Issue 1, January – March 2020 ISSN 2394-6415(Online)
habits and depends on quantity of water used. Water based The presence of coli phage virus also degrades the
diseases such as schistosomiasis and Guinea worm caused quality of drinking water. The collection point also
due to play habit of children in sand. These diseases are contaminated due to communal tap contacted by adult or
transmitted from one person to another and so-called children. The collection containers are not cleaned properly
contagious diseases. Figure 2 represents F-diagram which and the water stored unhygienic also degrades water
is illustrated below. quality. The quantity of water is determined by cultural and
religious practices. Water is essential for drinking, cooking,
washing and building cleaning. The amount depends on
sanitation factors such as.
Local habits
Climate
Sanitation technology used.
7
DOI: 10.30726/ijmrss/v7.i1.2020.71002
International Journal of Management Research and Social Science (IJMRSS) ISSN 2394-6407(Print)
Volume 7, Issue 1, January – March 2020 ISSN 2394-6415(Online)
The medical workers and Red Cross peoples should Thus, the information gathered is assessed and
care for wounded besides the side which they belong to, analyzed and problem and the consequences of problem
weapon doesn’t know the difference between fighters and also identified then plan is formulated and implemented
civilians where the future is in hands of robots. The public and is evaluated. Due to armed conflict nearly 50 million
health engineers formulate strategy for critical issues based people affected and 80% of people are displaced as refugee
on relevant analysis. The determining factors are in urban areas. The term Urban is recognized by its
Technical feasibility population density and geographic area by municipal
Resources available authorities it is also defined as rea within which civilians
Cost involved vulnerable to disruptions in essential services and network
of component supporting those services. The electric power
For effective action, RBM (Result Based Management plants, waste supply, waste treatment plant is located
Approach) is followed which is explained by flow diagram outside city limits. The urban service elements are shown
given below. below.
8
DOI: 10.30726/ijmrss/v7.i1.2020.71002
International Journal of Management Research and Social Science (IJMRSS) ISSN 2394-6407(Print)
Volume 7, Issue 1, January – March 2020 ISSN 2394-6415(Online)
9
DOI: 10.30726/ijmrss/v7.i1.2020.71002
International Journal of Management Research and Social Science (IJMRSS) ISSN 2394-6407(Print)
Volume 7, Issue 1, January – March 2020 ISSN 2394-6415(Online)
10
DOI: 10.30726/ijmrss/v7.i1.2020.71002
International Journal of Management Research and Social Science (IJMRSS) ISSN 2394-6407(Print)
Volume 7, Issue 1, January – March 2020 ISSN 2394-6415(Online)
The process can be explained clearly by the following Thus, the different sanitation technologies are
flow chart. explained. The sanitation technology is chosen based on
following factors. In India Squat type toilets is used along
with water facilities for cleaning whereas in Europe sitting
toilets are used along with toilet papers and hybrid type
toilets are also available. Before involving in action plan,
one should learn government regulations through
government documents by performing literature survey.
The field observations such as measurements, testing, and
mapping are formal, and informal participating method.
User interface involves open defecation or shallow trench
latrines, deep trench latrines, bore hole latrines, chemical
toilets, container-based toilets, lime treatment. Open
defecation results in diarrhea, cholera, typhus. Shallow
Fig. 11: Waste Disposal Process trench latrine covers with dark soil nearly 0.25 square
meter space per day is required that is nearly half football
Thus, the above figure clearly states how the wastes ground for 10,000 inhabitant per day. It requires low
are disposed. The main goals of excreta management are capital, less resources but the drawback is flies and odor.
Creating environment free from human feces There will be no privacy and the life span are very short
Safe containment of excreta and large area is required and very difficult to manage. The
Consultation with affected community on planned sanitation technology choosing factors are given below.
action Deep trench toilets where trench is drugged to 1.5m to 3m
Menstrual hygienic management and lining is made with plastic sheets and wood pillars
which is in expensive, quick to construct, done at the place
Provision of water and waste bin
where ground water table is low but the drawback is odor
Providing hand washing facilities
and flies. Container based toilets should be emptied
Avoid breeding of flies regularly; Pre-fabricated plastic molds are used so no
Emptying wastes when filled periodically permanent structure required. Chemical toilets are mobile
Ensuring that public toilet is used by less than 50 ones. Bore hole toilets require drilling machines. Lime
people. treatment toilets where odor is less where 20%-35% lime is
Monitoring regularly and providing periodic rapid used. Collection and storage tank perform aerobic and
assessment aerobic digestion processes where an aerobic done in
Formulating immediate and long-term action plan absence of oxygen at bottom of waste water pond carbon
Implementing the plan effectively. rich organic substances is found.
11
DOI: 10.30726/ijmrss/v7.i1.2020.71002
International Journal of Management Research and Social Science (IJMRSS) ISSN 2394-6407(Print)
Volume 7, Issue 1, January – March 2020 ISSN 2394-6415(Online)
production of bio gas. Septic tank is water tight tank build Behavior changing technology should be adopted
with reinforced concrete, polyethylene or fiber glass. The based on the assessments made.
structure is simple and robust and life is long, operation
cost is low, small land is required, regular desludging RANAS model is used achieve behavior changes. It
should be done.ABR (An aerobic baffled reactor with 1-3 determines following factors
fixed bed filter with larger surface for microbial growth. Person understanding of health risk
Bio gas reactor used for cooking and lightening. Semi Attitude whether positive or negative behavior
centralized treatment is performed under following stages. Normalized social pressure
The biological process involves aerobic process, an aerobic Ability and person confidence
technology, hybrid combination of both aerobic and an Self-regulation and self-motivation
aerobic technology. The semi centralized treatment is
carried it in following four steps. The behavior changing techniques are stated below.
Information
Persuasive behavior
Normalized behavior
Infrastructure
Fig. 16: Semi Centralized Treatment Process Skills and ability
Planning and implementation
Pretreatment prevents accumulation of solids and
prevent blockage it is a preliminary process of removal of 5. Medical Waste Management
sludge constituents such as oil and grease. The primary
treatment involves liquid and solid separation for example Medical waste is normal waste mixed with needles,
sedimentation. Secondary treatment involves removal of vials, anatomical parts. X-ray liquid wastes are drained in
organic and suspended particles. Post treatment involves sewage polluting environment as it contains absorbable
removal of pathogens. Pretreatment involves initial organic iodinated compounds that are toxic to animals and
screening of floating particles such as fat, oil and grease. humans such as formaldehyde causes carcinogen in
The post treatment involves removal of nutritious humans. The medical wastes that are disposed through
components such as nitrogen and prosperous. An aerobic incineration cause more smoke and medical waste provides
technology takes 1-3 days retention time. The sludge vectors for transmission of diseases. The infection
removal process is explained in the figure below. transmission is explained in figure below.
12
DOI: 10.30726/ijmrss/v7.i1.2020.71002
International Journal of Management Research and Social Science (IJMRSS) ISSN 2394-6407(Print)
Volume 7, Issue 1, January – March 2020 ISSN 2394-6415(Online)
Infection transmission through environment is explained Mechanical transmission through fly sitting on feces to
below. human being by landing on eye or salads also transmitted
through poor housing which results in increased human
exposure towards vector. Proper drainage and sanitation
management will reduce the risk of vector exposure of
population. The biological transformation is through skin
penetration causes diseases such as malaria. Vectors are
quoted here below.
Fig. 19: Infection Transmission through Environment
13
DOI: 10.30726/ijmrss/v7.i1.2020.71002
International Journal of Management Research and Social Science (IJMRSS) ISSN 2394-6407(Print)
Volume 7, Issue 1, January – March 2020 ISSN 2394-6415(Online)
using living organisms against vector for example fishes [2] Bell, D.R. (ed.) (1995) Lecture Notes on Tropical Medicine, 4th
edition. Blackwell Science Ltd.: Oxford (UK).
are used to eat larvae and finally Chemical control method
[3] Benenson, A.S. (ed.) (1995) Control of Communicable Diseases
is employed by using sprays, repellents and insecticides. Manual, 16th edition. The American Public Health Association:
Thus, the vector control strategies are discussed. Washington (USA).
[4] Berkow. R. (ed.) (1992) The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and
Therapy, 16th edition. Merck Research Laboratories: Rahway
7. Conclusion (USA).
[5] Birley, M.H. (-) Guidelines for Forecasting the Vector-borne
Thus, this paper explained the contribution of Disease Implications of Water Resources Development. WHO
Collaborating Centre: Environmental Management for Vector
engineering and technical skills in safeguarding public Control, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine: Liverpool (UK).
health during humanitarian crisis caused due to natural [6] Birley, M. and Lock, K. (1999) The Health Impacts of Peri-Urban
calamities or man- made disasters such as armed conflicts. Natural Resource Development. International Centre for Health
Humanitarian crisis is more complex in urban settings that Impact Assessment; Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine:
Liverpool (UK)
puts greater population at health risk due to epidemic [7] Boot, M.T. and Cairncross, S. (eds.) (1993) Actions Speak: The
disease breakout. Here we discussed the role of well- Study of Hygiene Behavior in Water and Sanitation Projects. IRC
trained engineers who are specialist in water, sanitation, International Water and Sanitation Centre: The Hague (The
energy supply and environment. This paper explains the Netherlands).
[8] Bowry, T.R. (1984) Immunology Simplified, 2nd edition. Oxford
link between water, sanitation and hygiene so called University Press: Oxford (UK)
WASH activities that reduces mortality and morbidity in [9] Brandberg, B. (1997) Latrine Building: A Handbook for
population during disasters. Implementing the SanPlat System. Intermediate Technology
Publications: London (UK).
[10] Bres, P. (1986) Public Health Action in Emergencies caused by
References Epidemics: A Practical Guide. World Health Organization: Geneva
(Switzerland).
[1] Agarwal, A.; Kimondo, J.; Moreno, G. and Tinker, J. (1983) Water,
Sanitation, Health - for all? Prospects for the International Drinking
Water Supply and Sanitation Decade, 1981- 90. The International
Institute for Environment and Development.
14
DOI: 10.30726/ijmrss/v7.i1.2020.71002