Defining Population Health Vulnerability Following an Extreme Weather Event in an Urban Pacific Island Environment: Honiara, Solomon Islands

Abstract

Abstract. Extreme weather events are common and increasing in intensity in the southwestern Pacific region. Health impacts from cyclones and tropical storms cause acute injuries and infectious disease outbreaks. Defining population vulnerability to extreme weather events by examining a recent flood in Honiara, Solomon Islands, can help stakeholders and policymakers adapt development to reduce future threats. The acute and subacute health impacts following the April 2014 floods were defined using data obtained from hospitals and clinics, the Ministry of Health and in-country World Health Organization office in Honiara. Geographical information system (GIS) was used to assess morbidity and mortality, and vulnerability of the health system infrastructure and households in Honiara. The April flash floods were responsible for 21 acute deaths, 33 injuries, and a diarrhea outbreak that affected 8,584 people with 10 pediatric deaths. A GIS vulnerability assessment of the location of the health system infrastructure and households relative to rivers and the coastline identified 75% of the health infrastructure and over 29% of Honiara's population as vulnerable to future hydrological events. Honiara, Solomon Islands, is a rapidly growing, highly vulnerable urban Pacific Island environment. Evaluation of the mortality and morbidity from the April 2014 floods as well as the infectious disease outbreaks that followed allows public health specialists and policy makers to understand the health system and populations vulnerability to future shocks. Understanding the negative impacts natural disaster have on people living in urban Pacific environments will help the government as well as development partners in crafting resilient adaptation development.

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“…(1) Yes (2) Unable to test (1a) These associations were strongest for bacterial and all-cause diarrhea (1b) The strongest positive associations were 4-7 days after flood events (2) Studies often did not report the length of flood events in the literature 26 articles (Abu and Codjoe 2018, Cash et al 2014, Cesa et al 2016, Colston et al 2020, Deilami et al 2017, Fredrick et al 2015Gao et al 2016, Gertler et al 2015, Gong et al 2019, Jones et al 2016, Koley et al 2014, Liu X et al 2016, Liu Z et al 2018, Martinez et al 2016, Natuzzi et al 2016, Rosinger 2018, Saulnier et al 2018, Song Q et al 2018, Thompson et al 2015…”

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“…All questionnaires had informed consent. Not all studies acknowledged the ethical considerations of their work (Natuzzi et al, 2016;Zakrison, Valdes, & Shultz, 2020).…”

“…Building and physical infrastructures, such as energy and water systems, were reported to be unreliable or perceived to be inadequate to safely protect staff and patients while providing healthcare services (Natuzzi et al, 2016;Zhong et al, 2014). Specifically, one island nation reported that three of nine health clinics were recently damaged by floodwaters with subsequent geographical information system (GIS) results predicting vulnerability of 75 percent of health systems in future flood events (Natuzzi et al, 2016). Hospital safety concerns, including backup power and water in 61 percent of hospitals surveyed in China, prompted preemptive hospital evacuation as part of their disaster plan (Zhong et al, 2014).…”

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