Disaster Medicine, Telemedicine and Integrated Vector Control: United Nation’s Space Technology Program for Disaster Management

Abstract

UN-SPIDER-United Nations platform for space-based information for disaster management and emergency response is a new programme established as per UN’s resolution 61/110.UN-SPIDER is being implemented as an open network of providers of space-based solutions to support disaster management activities. Besides Vienna, the programme also has an office in Bonn, Germany and Beijing, China. In recent years the program have contributed to making space technologies available for humanitarian and emergency response, UN-SPIDER is the first to focus on the need to ensure access to and use of such solutions during all phases of the disaster management cycle, including the risk reduction phase, which significantly contributed for reducing the loss of lives and property. The UN-SPIDER programme is achieving this by being a gateway to space information for disaster management support, by serving as a bridge to connect the disaster management and space communities and by being a facilitator of capacity-building and institutional strengthening, in particular for developing countries. This paper communicates about emergency, disaster medicine, telemedicine and vector-borne disease management for prevention and control of harmful health effects due to disasters and optimizing benefits to both human health and the environment.