An asset-based participatory community analysis of natural hazards in Naphuno, Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa

Hospital disaster preparedness in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of English literature

BACKGROUND

Disasters are increasing worldwide, with Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) being one of the most prone regions. Hospitals play a key role in disasters. This study provides a systematic review of the evidence on disaster preparedness by hospitals in SSA countries based on English literature.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted of articles published between January 2012 and July 2022. We searched PubMed, Elsevier, Science Direct, Google Scholar, the WHO depository library and CDC sites for English language publications. The key inclusion criteria were: publications should have been published in the above period, deal with hospital disaster preparedness in SSA, the full paper should have been available, and studies should have presented a comparison between hospitals and/or a single hospital.

RESULTS

Results indicate improvements in disaster preparedness over time. However, health systems in SSA are generally considered vulnerable, and they find it difficult to adapt to changing health conditions. Inadequately skilled healthcare professionals, underfunding, poor knowledge, the absence of governance and leadership, lack of transparency and bureaucracy are the main preparedness barriers. Some countries are in an infancy stage of their health system development, while others are among the least developed health system in the world. Finally, a major barrier to disaster preparedness in SSA countries is the inability to collaborate in disaster response.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospital disaster preparedness is vulnerable in SSA countries. Thus, improvement of hospital disaster preparedness is highly needed.

Vulnerability management practices for sustainable livelihood security in drought-prone Gamo lowlands: An empirical insight from southwest Ethiopia

Vulnerable people do not always absorb the occurring shocks instead they react to disasters employing multiple strategies. This study mainly aims to explore households' vulnerability management practices and their linkages with sustainable livelihood security in the drought-prone Gamo lowland setup. Through the multistage sampling technique, a total of 285 respondents were selected from the four sample kebeles. Primary data were collected using a survey questionnaire, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Secondary data were drawn from published and unpublished materials. A mix of the qualitative dominant mixed methods of data analysis was employed. The newly formulated Vulnerability Management for Survival (VMS) framework is used to schematize people's survival strategies and challenges. It was found that the Gamo lowland households pursue multiple vulnerability management practices like liquidation, adopting drought-resistant crops, livelihood diversification, destocking, engagements in off-farm activities, remittance, and reciprocity. These practices are linked with households' livelihood security wherein effective management of vulnerabilities yields secured and sustained livelihoods among the implications. To sustainably enhance rural invulnerability, strengthening people's survival strategies like reciprocity, participation in financial institutions, water harvesting, area closure, afforestation and reforestation, and access to information are recommended.

Flood hazard management in a multiple hazard context: a systematic review of flood hazard management during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa

Result-oriented research can uncover hidden flood management obstacles and propose solutions that, if combined with political will, appropriate technology, and resources, can overcome the majority of Africa's future flood calamities. In view of this, it is critical to examine researchers' findings on flood hazard management, particularly now that the continent is struggling with COVID-19 and other hazards. This study employed a systematic review approach to critically analyze 103 contextually detailed studies with a set of criteria that were not only meant to keep the focus on floods and the COVID-19 pandemic but also to understand the context of managing floods during COVID-19 and other hazards at the same time on the continent. I found that the authors strongly recommend how institutions should create non-structural enabling environments for managing combined hazards. Also, researchers paid little attention to recommending ecosystem-based measures for flood management during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. Future research should study how different countries in Africa are preparing to manage multiple future hazards, including the comparative assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of individual countries' planning and preparation.