Topic: Disaster and disaster management.
6. What do you understand by a public health emergency of international concern? Present the case of Corona outbreak in China while discussing the preparedness of India for such an epidemic. (250 words)
Reference: Live Mint
Why this question:
Wuhan has been the epicenter of this spread of Coronavirus. There has been a consistent rise in number of cases registered and death due to it in the province. WHO has confirmed that the virus can spread from human-to-human. Thus the context of the question.
Key demand of the question:
Discuss in detail what a public health emergency of international concern is.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Public health emergency of international concern is defined as an “extraordinary event that is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response.” The public emergency announcement is the highest level of alarm that is only raised during the gravest of outbreaks.
Body:
Discuss the case of corona virus spreading rapidly in China.
Explain the factors that need focus during such an outbreak.
Explain how China is managing the outbreak.
Discuss the levels of preparedness of India for such mass epidemics.
Conclusion:
Current health infrastructure in India paints a dismal picture of healthcare delivery system in the country, however India needs to ensure that the Central and state health agencies act in tandem and gear up the capacity to handle such concerns.
