Hurricanes and Health: A Systems Thinking Approach to Understanding Complexity and Context
2019
This case study from the Western Public Health Casebook 2019 follows a water and sanitation engineer from the Pan American Health Organization, as she embarks on a mission to Dominica following the destruction of Hurricane Maria in 2017. When she arrives at a remote shelter, she discovers the concerning environmental conditions left behind by the hurricane – destruction of the community’s water supply – as well as the disasters impact on the mental health of the locals. The community is forced to drink from the nearby river, raising concerns of a potential leptospirosis outbreak. As many of non-governmental workers have different solutions to the multitude of problems, Leona works to unite the group to coordinate an effective response.
This case contains guidance for instructors, including learning objectives and discussion questions. It is part of a 14-case collection written by students in the MPH class of the Schulich Interfaculty Program in Public Health at Western University, Canada. The cases may be freely copied and used for educational purposes by an accredited educational institution.
Hurricanes and Health: A Systems Thinking Approach to Understanding Complexity and Context
Source:
Edmonds V et al. Hurricanes and Health: A Systems Thinking Approach to Understanding Complexity and Context. Western Public Health Casebook 2019. Public Health Casebook Publishing 2019. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/westernpublichealthcases/vol2019/iss2019/8.