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Health Needs Assessment after Storm Linfa in Central Vietnam using the Health Needs Assessment Toolkit of the ARCH Project
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Abstract
Aims: This study aims to assess healthcare needs after Typhoon Linfa and evaluate the feasibility of applying the ARCH Project's health needs assessment toolkit in the most severely affected provinces of Central Vietnam in October 2020.
Methods: The HNA toolkit was utilized to identify medical needs across five central provinces by collecting secondary data, conducting in-depth interviews, and conducting direct on-site observations.
Results: Comprising 29 variables, the toolkit demonstrated high practicality, simplicity, and broad applicability. It was well-received by healthcare professionals and participants. The use of this toolkit enabled the comprehensive collection of data across key domains, including “Population and Health Needs,” “Public Health,” and “Health Facilities and Services,” with no data loss in any variables. These findings provide a strong basis for planning emergency medical responses in the aftermath of the storm.
Conclusions and Recommendations: Storm Linfa caused extensive damage to both communities and healthcare facilities in the five central provinces. The ARCH Project’s HNA toolkit proved to be a valuable and thorough instrument for assessing health impacts in such disaster contexts. Nevertheless, due to the volume of information it requires, the toolkit may benefit from modifications to enhance its practicality in real-world natural disaster scenarios in Vietnam.
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Keywords
Storm Linfa, Health Needs Assessment, Central Vietnam, ARCH Project
References
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