In the latest bad news for the environment, the Independent reports that the United States increased greenhouse emissions 1,7% in 2004. [Scientists condemn US as emissions of greenhouse gases hit record level] This, of course, is the exact opposite of what is needed if the environment is not to radically deteriorate, with serious, if not catastrophic, consequences for human civilization.
“Scientists have suggested that if the international community is to try to stabilise carbon dioxide levels at twice pre-industrial levels then countries such as the US and Britain need to reduce emissions by about 60 per cent by the middle of this century.”
April 18th, 2006
The first line of defense in the event of an avian flu pandemic is our public health system, or what remains of it after years of being bled through a thousand cuts. Now a new study of public health workers finds that many, especially clerical personnel, say they are likely to stay home during a pandemic. [Local public health workers' perceptions toward responding to an influenza pandemic ] After all, they feel their work will not be important in controlling the pandemic, so why risk their health?
Abstract:
Background
Current national preparedness plans require local health departments to play an integral role in responding to an influenza pandemic, a major public health threat that the World Health Organization has described as “inevitable and possibly imminent”. To understand local public health workers’ perceptions toward pandemic influenza response, we surveyed 308 employees at three health departments in Maryland from March - July 2005, on factors that may influence their ability and willingness to report to duty in such an event.
Results
The data suggest that nearly half of the local health department workers are likely not to report to duty during a pandemic. The stated likelihood of reporting to duty was significantly greater for clinical (Multivariate OR: 2.5; CI 1.3-4.7) than technical and support staff, and perception of the importance of one’s role in the agency’s overall response was the single most influential factor associated with willingness to report (Multivariate OR: 9.5; CI 4.6-19.9).
Conclusions
The perceived risk among public health workers was shown to be associated with several factors peripheral to the actual hazard of this event. These risk perception modifiers and the knowledge gaps identified serve as barriers to pandemic influenza response and must be specifically addressed to enable effective local public health response to this significant threat.
[ Full article (pdf)]
If not addressed, the absence of these workers could help cripple this vital system. Not valuing all workers regardless of professional status and involving them directly in their work may have dire consequences in this instance.
UPDATE:
See comments on this story by Revere at Effect Size:
One of the most important jobs of civic leaders is to mobilize the community to prepare for this kind of problem. There will be no shortage of willing volunteers once people understand the stakes and understand that together we will get through a pandemic much better than if we hide from each other, hunkered down in our houses, trying to avoid a virus that may be difficult or impossible to avoid. Most people won’t get sick, and most people who do get sick will recover. This is not doomsday. But the disruption in society can have its own painful, sometimes lethal, effects if we don’t get ready for it. And there’s no reason not to get ready. What it takes to prepare has lasting benefits beyond a flu outbreak.
Will there be those who are too fearful for themselves or their families to help out? Certainly. They will need our help, too, whether they help us or not. But the overwhelming majority of people will do what they can — if we make it possible for them and we promote the idea it is for our common good. I don’t worry that health care or public health or police or fire will abandon their posts if we are prepared.
The idea we are all in this together is an ideological notion, of course. It opposes the equally ideological one that says it’s every person for themselves. There are good reasons to believe we are better off as a society if we work cooperatively, but no one can guarantee for any individual person they are better off. If you hold as a moral position that a person’s only concern should be to look after him or herself, then you should also be prepared to forfeit the help of others when you need it.
April 18th, 2006