Last Updated on May 4, 2023 by Admin
Write a 750-1,000-word policy brief that summarizes the issue, explains the effect on the population, and proposes a solution to the issue
Write a 750-1,000-word policy brief that summarizes the issue
Benchmark- Policy brief
Research public health issues on the “Climate Change” or “Topics and Issues” pages of the American Public Health Association (APHA) website. Investigate a public health issue related to an environmental issue within the U.S. health care delivery system and examine its effect on a specific population.
Write a 750-1,000-word policy brief that summarizes the issue, explains the effect on the population, and proposes a solution to the issue.
Follow this outline when writing the policy brief:
- Describe the policy health issue. Include the following information: (a) what population is affected, (b) at what level does it occur (local, state, or national), and (c) evidence about the issues supported by resources.
- Create a problem statement.
- Provide suggestions for addressing the health issue caused by the current policy. Describe what steps are required to initiate policy change. Include necessary stakeholders (government officials, administrator) and budget or funding considerations, if applicable.
- Discuss the impact on the health care delivery system.
Include three peer-reviewed sources and two other sources to support the policy brief.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Course Resources if you need assistance.
Expert Answer and Explanation
American Public Health Association (APHA)
The issue of climate change is affecting the entire world due to the constant global warming challenges and pollution from different industries. Climate change has managed to become of the leading concerns for the human race as it is attaining alarming levels. There are fears of the occurrence of natural calamities that are linked to climate change and might lead to loss of lives and economic sabotage (Clark-Ginsberg et al., 2020).
Healthcare facilities need to be prepared to respond to different issues within the community in the event of a disaster or climate change crisis. The American Public Health Association (APHA) provides policies on how healthcare facilities can deal with the consequences of climate change during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Natural Disasters During the COVID-19 Pandemic
According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), the general public needs to be aware of the different impacts that climate change has on the functionality of the healthcare sector (APHA, 2020). The association provides detailed policies that healthcare facilities and the general public can use to help in the event of a natural disaster during the pandemic. The general population will be affected by any incident whether directly or indirectly. The affected regions will comprise individuals affected directly by a disaster such as a tsunami and other areas will have to offer help and the overall population saddened by the loss of the community and loved ones.
Natural disasters occur in certain localities but the overall impact can be felt on a national level. The national government has to intervene and help those in the affected areas through evacuations, offering basic amenities, and medication. Healthcare agencies need to work together to coordinate service delivery and improve the provision of services and medications to the injured. APHA provides guidelines that help healthcare facilities prepare for different disasters during the pandemic and how they can manage the issue without causing further harm (APHA, 2020).
The APHA website offers insights regarding the need for preparedness against climate change issues ranging from drought, hurricanes, tsunamis, and earthquakes among many others. The information can be used by the healthcare facilities to understand the needed resources, amenities, and personnel needed for an emergency event. APHA provides the needed evidence and resources that can be used to the issue at hand.
Statement of Problem
Natural disasters can disrupt the normal operations of a policy and the effectiveness of set guidelines. For instance, during a disaster such as an earthquake, there is the destruction of property and the survivors can be placed in camps or holding grounds where they would not maintain certain policies such as maintaining social distance needed for mitigating COVID-19. In this regard, it is difficult to implement measures that can help prevent the further spread of the disease and limit the efficiency of the process (Combs et al., 2020). In this regard, there is a need for measures to help prevent the healthcare provider from contracting the disease and also help reduce the rate of infection among the affected communities.
Recommendations for Addressing the Issue
Different issues need to be addressed based on the problem statement, the first issue is the need to prepare for a disaster and the second is how to mitigate the issues of COVID-19 during a disaster. Concerning disaster preparedness, the communities that live near disaster-prone areas need to be informed on survival skills in the event of an occurrence. Preparedness against a disaster is important for the community and would also help reduce the financials needed to deal with the issues (Combs et al., 2020). Additionally, there is a need to address evacuation plans, and the need for accountability and communication to help with the problem at hand (CDC, 2020).
On the other hand, there is a need to address the issue of healthcare preparedness and whether they can help the affected victims as well as ensure their health and wellbeing. Ensuring that the healthcare staff put on the right gear while tending to the affected communities can help with the issue and improve the quality of health. The main stakeholders include humanitarian agencies and the government who would coordinate sensitization of the communities. Healthcare facilities should also train their staff on proper handling of patients while ensuring their safety as well.
Impact on Health Care Delivery System
Disaster preparedness is a key factor mainly with the climate change that is ongoing in the world. Climatic conditions can change and with it, a series of events that can be harmful to the people in the affected regions. Ensuring that there are proper resources and activities can help mitigate the impact and reduce the impact of the disaster. The healthcare facilities would also ensure that their staff is safeguarded (Shultz et al., 2020). Overall, there would also be a limited spread of infectious diseases limiting patient overcrowding.
Conclusion
The American Public Health Association (APHA) provides policies on how healthcare facilities can deal with the consequences of climate change during the COVID-19 pandemic. Climate change is an imminent problem and needs to be addressed as required. The healthcare sector is the main facility that can be affected by a disaster since they need to ensure there is continuity of services and capacity to tend to the casualties. Proper preparedness and awareness can be used to sensitize the patients and create the needed awareness.
References
APHA. (2020). Climate Change. American Public Health Association (APHA). https://www.apha.org/topics-and-issues/climate-change
Clark-Ginsberg, A., Rueda, I. A., Monken, J., Liu, J., & Chen, H. (2020). Maintaining critical infrastructure resilience to natural hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic: hurricane preparations by US energy companies. Journal of Infrastructure Preservation and Resilience, 1(1), 1-6.
Combs, S. E., Belka, C., Niyazi, M., Corradini, S., Pigorsch, S., Wilkens, J., … & Bernhardt, D. (2020). First statement on preparation for the COVID-19 pandemic in large German Speaking University-based radiation oncology departments. Radiation Oncology, 15, 1-12.
CDC. (2020). Preparing for Hurricanes During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/covid-19/prepare-for-hurricane.html
Shultz, J. M., Kossin, J. P., Hertelendy, A., Burkle, F., Fugate, C., Sherman, R., … & Sands, D. E. (2020). Mitigating the twin threats of climate-driven Atlantic hurricanes and COVID-19 transmission. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 1-10.
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Why Do We Need Environmental Health Planning?
Environmental health planning is a process of assessing, analyzing, and managing the risks to human health arising from environmental factors. It aims to prevent or reduce the impact of environmental hazards on public health by developing strategies, policies, and interventions. In this article, we will explore the reasons why environmental health planning is important and how it can contribute to improving human health.
1. Introduction
Environmental health planning is an essential component of public health. It involves understanding the complex interactions between the environment and human health and developing evidence-based strategies to prevent or reduce environmental hazards. The goal of environmental health planning is to ensure that the environments in which we live, work, and play are safe and healthy.
2. Definition of Environmental Health Planning
Environmental health planning is a systematic process of assessing, analyzing, and managing environmental risks to human health. It involves identifying and evaluating potential hazards, developing strategies and policies to prevent or mitigate these hazards, and implementing interventions to reduce exposure and minimize the impact of environmental risks.
3. The Importance of Environmental Health Planning
Environmental health planning is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to identify and prioritize environmental hazards that pose a threat to human health. Secondly, it helps to develop evidence-based policies and interventions to address these hazards. Thirdly, it enables the evaluation and monitoring of the effectiveness of interventions to ensure they are achieving their intended outcomes. Finally, it fosters collaboration with stakeholders and partners to build resilience to environmental risks.
4. Identifying and Assessing Environmental Risks
The first step in environmental health planning is to identify and assess environmental risks. This involves gathering data and information about the environment, including air, water, soil, and food, and identifying potential hazards, such as pollutants, toxins, and pathogens. Risk assessment involves evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm to human health from exposure to these hazards.
5. Developing Policies and Strategies to Manage Environmental Risks
Once environmental risks have been identified and assessed, the next step is to develop policies and strategies to manage them. This involves setting goals and targets for reducing exposure to hazards and implementing interventions to achieve these goals. Policies and strategies may include regulatory measures, such as setting standards for air and water quality, or non-regulatory measures, such as public education campaigns to promote healthy behaviors.
6. Implementing Interventions to Address Environmental Risks
The third step in environmental health planning is to implement interventions to address environmental risks. This may involve working with other agencies and stakeholders, such as industry, community groups, and healthcare providers, to implement interventions. Interventions may include engineering controls, such as pollution control technologies, or behavioral interventions, such as promoting healthy eating and exercise.
7. Evaluating and Monitoring the Effectiveness of Environmental Health Planning
To ensure that policies and interventions are effective, it is important to evaluate and monitor their impact on environmental and health outcomes. This involves collecting and analyzing data on exposure to hazards, health outcomes, and the effectiveness of interventions. Monitoring also provides feedback to refine policies and interventions and improve their effectiveness over time.
8. Collaborating with Stakeholders
Collaborating with stakeholders is a crucial aspect of environmental health planning. Stakeholders are individuals or groups who have an interest or stake in the environmental health issue being addressed. These may include community members, industry representatives, healthcare providers, and policymakers.
Engaging stakeholders in the planning process helps to ensure that their concerns and perspectives are taken into account. It also helps to build trust and support for the policies and interventions being developed. Stakeholders may provide valuable insights into the environmental risks and potential solutions, as well as identify barriers and challenges to implementing interventions.
Effective stakeholder engagement requires clear communication, transparency, and mutual respect. It is important to involve stakeholders early in the planning process and provide opportunities for meaningful participation. This may include public meetings, focus groups, or surveys. It is also important to provide feedback to stakeholders on how their input was used in the planning process.
Collaborating with stakeholders can also help to build partnerships and leverage resources to address environmental health issues. This may include working with industry to develop pollution control technologies or partnering with healthcare providers to promote healthy behaviors.
Overall, stakeholder engagement is an essential component of environmental health planning. It helps to ensure that policies and interventions are responsive to the needs and perspectives of those affected by environmental risks and can lead to more effective and sustainable solutions.
9. Building Resilience to Environmental Risks
Building resilience to environmental risks is an important aspect of environmental health planning. Environmental risks can include natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, as well as human-made hazards such as pollution and climate change.
Resilience is the ability of communities and individuals to withstand and recover from environmental risks. It involves building social, economic, and environmental systems that are able to absorb and adapt to shocks and stresses.
One key strategy for building resilience is to improve the capacity of individuals and communities to prepare for and respond to environmental risks. This may include developing emergency response plans, educating the public on risk reduction strategies, and investing in early warning systems.
Another strategy is to build infrastructure and systems that are more resilient to environmental risks. This may include designing buildings and infrastructure to withstand high winds and flooding, as well as developing green infrastructure such as parks and green roofs that can absorb excess water and reduce the risk of flooding.
In addition, building resilience can involve promoting sustainable practices that reduce environmental risks and improve community health. This may include promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, reducing waste and pollution, and promoting sustainable land use practices.
Effective resilience-building requires collaboration and coordination among multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, community organizations, and the private sector. It also requires a long-term perspective and a commitment to ongoing monitoring and adaptation as risks and conditions change.
Overall, building resilience to environmental risks is a critical component of environmental health planning. By improving the ability of communities and individuals to prepare for and respond to environmental risks, we can reduce the impact of disasters and build more sustainable and healthy communities.
10. Environmental Health Planning and Sustainable Development Goals
Environmental health planning plays a crucial role in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of 17 global goals aimed at eradicating poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for all.
Environmental health planning is particularly relevant to several of the SDGs, including Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being, Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and Goal 13: Climate Action.
Effective environmental health planning can help to promote good health and well-being by reducing exposure to environmental risks such as pollution and climate change. It can also improve access to clean water and sanitation, which is essential for preventing waterborne diseases.
In addition, environmental health planning can help to promote the use of clean and affordable energy sources, which can reduce the impact of fossil fuel use on the environment and public health. It can also support sustainable land use practices and promote sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Finally, environmental health planning can play a critical role in addressing climate change, which is one of the biggest challenges facing our planet. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting adaptation to the impacts of climate change, we can help to mitigate the worst effects of this global crisis.
Overall, environmental health planning is an essential component of achieving the SDGs. By promoting sustainable development and protecting public health and the environment, we can create a more prosperous and equitable world for all.
Conclusion
In conclusion, environmental health planning is a critical process for promoting public health, protecting the environment, and building resilient communities. By considering the complex interactions between environmental factors and human health, environmental health planning can help to identify and address the root causes of many public health challenges.
Through collaboration with multiple stakeholders and the implementation of evidence-based strategies, environmental health planning can help to reduce exposure to environmental risks such as pollution, climate change, and natural disasters. It can also promote sustainable development and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
However, the challenges facing our planet are complex and ever-changing, and effective environmental health planning requires ongoing monitoring, adaptation, and innovation. By staying informed and engaged, we can work together to create a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy future for all.
Thank you for reading this article, and we hope that it has provided valuable insights into the importance of environmental health planning.
FAQs
What is environmental health planning?
Environmental health planning is the process of identifying and addressing environmental risks that can impact human health. This includes assessing the impact of environmental factors such as air pollution, water quality, and climate change, and developing strategies to mitigate these risks.
Why is environmental health planning important?
Environmental health planning is important because it helps to protect public health and the environment. By identifying and addressing environmental risks, we can reduce the impact of pollution and climate change on human health and promote sustainable development.
Who is involved in environmental health planning?
Environmental health planning involves multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, community groups, and academic institutions. Collaboration between these stakeholders is essential for developing effective environmental health plans.
What are some examples of environmental health planning initiatives?
Examples of environmental health planning initiatives include air quality management plans, water quality monitoring programs, and climate change adaptation strategies. These initiatives may involve regulatory measures, education and outreach programs, and community engagement efforts.
How can individuals get involved in environmental health planning?
Individuals can get involved in environmental health planning by participating in community groups or advocacy organizations that focus on environmental issues. They can also stay informed about local and national environmental policies and advocate for policies that promote public health and environmental protection.