Nursing Students Learn Disaster Management to Respond with Confidence in the Future

On February 20, 2025, the Faculty of Nursing at Van Lang University organized a special session on “Disasters and Disaster Management”. Led by Associate Professor Dr. Roshan Kumar Mahato (*), the seminar provided nursing students with in-depth knowledge of disasters and highlighted their severe impact on healthcare systems and public health.

^(*) Associate Professor Dr. Roshan Kumar Mahato is an expert in Public Health, Epidemiology, and Geoinformatics. He is currently working at Khon Kaen University (Thailand).

The speaker defined a disaster as the interaction between an extreme event and the socio-economic conditions of affected communities. Disasters can be triggered by natural phenomena or human activities. Factors contributing to human vulnerability in disasters include geographical location, social conditions, environmental factors, and technological aspects.

“Disaster management is not just a field of study but an applied science with strong practical relevance. Its ultimate goal is to enhance measures and procedures across all phases of a disaster, from prevention and risk mitigation to preparedness, emergency response, and post-disaster recovery”, emphasized Dr. Mahato.

The expert also underscored the importance of preparedness and resilience-building against natural disasters through the Disaster Management Cycle (DMC) model. This approach focuses on four key stages: prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. The DMC framework facilitates timely disaster handling and ensures data storage for future research.

Dr. Mahato further advised on disaster preparedness strategies, resource control (including natural resources, legal frameworks, and human resources), the establishment of early warning systems, the creation of disaster prevention funds, and the implementation of national and regional disaster mitigation programs.

Through this program, students gained a comprehensive understanding of the disaster management process—from prevention and response to recovery and reconstruction. They also engaged in discussions and learned from an industry-leading expert. This experience serves as a valuable foundation for their future careers in the Health Sciences sector.

News: Thien Phu
Photos: Tram Le