Citation

Terry Berro B, Rodriguez Salva A. Gac. Sanit. 2005; 19(1): 76-79.

Vernacular Title

Una estrategia de atencion primaria de salud en situaciones de desastres.

Affiliation

Facultad Calixto García. Ciudad de la Habana. Cuba. Instituto de Nutrición e Higiene de los Alimentos. Ciudad de la Habana. Cuba.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15745673

Abstract

The present article describes the experience of the Cuban Medical Team in the Colombian Coffee Area after the earthquake of January 25, 1999. The interventions were directed at the areas of primary health care, primary environmental care, environmental health, and epidemiological surveillance, bearing in mind the organization of earthquake victims sheltered in emergency settlements in the affected municipality. Active epidemiological surveillance showed that the main causes of morbidity were acute diarrheic diseases, acute respiratory infections, and skin diseases. Evaluation of the settlements showed a correlation between poor environmental health conditions and associated diseases. The results of this field study could serve as a guide for health professionals in the event of disasters and displaced populations.