Disasters are ‘any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life or deterioration of health and health services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected area’ in view of World Health Organization (WHO).
The Asia Pacific Region is among the most disaster prone regions in the world. The WHO Western Pacific and Southeast Asian Regions oversee member states’ capacities and responses to disasters. The relentlessly increasing number and diversity of natural and technological disasters pose severe, sustained health threats resulting in high numbers of deaths, injuries, infrastructure damage and destruction, personal suffering, high health and economic costs. Disasters frequently result in the loss of livelihoods, with significant social and economic impacts on communities as well as impaired functional abilities of those affected. Reports indicate that the Asia Pacific Region accounts for about 30% of the world’s landmass but receives a disproportionately greater impact of disasters, in comparison to other regions of the world.
Shandong University, as a first class academic and research institution, strives to work closely with the WHO and other partners to develop and sustain the web-based platform for the Asia Pacific Emergency and Disaster Nursing and Partners Network (APEDNN) as a hub for cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration. The APEDNN web platform contributes to the excellence in disaster and emergency responses through the provision of a variety of application systems (such as translation and quality management, video conferencing, course management, and online research) in addition to the ongoing sharing and exchanging of information and other materials.
It is our wish that APEDNN members, partners and all other users find your innovative ways in which to make full use of the web-based platform and to guide us to making continuous improvements to the web platform.
Prof. Xianming Xu MS. Kathleen Fritsch Dr. Arturo Pesign
President Regional Nursing Advisor Technical Officer
Shandong University WPRO Emergency & Humanitarian Action
WPRO