Heather Galada - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Heather Galada

Revista Panamericana De Salud Publica-pan American Journal of Public Health, 2009

Objectives. Low-income residents of northern Mexico rely on unvented heaters during the winter, a... more Objectives. Low-income residents of northern Mexico rely on unvented heaters during the winter, a practice that puts them at elevated risk for carbon monoxide intoxication. The goal of this study is to develop a communication protocol for carbon monoxide intoxication risks among the primarily low socioeconomic status population of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.

… de Salud Pública, Jan 1, 2009

Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

In order to understand gaps in bioterrorism training, we surveyed 70 first responders about their... more In order to understand gaps in bioterrorism training, we surveyed 70 first responders about their training for an anthrax event. A total of 82.6% of participants had some training, but most were trained on-site by someone from their facility. Internet-based training was rarely employed and may be an underutilized resource. Participants were fairly confident about most of their skills and training, but a plurality was not comfortable with the use of on-scene testing devices or responding to an outdoor release. Efforts to assess first responder knowledge of dispersion in both the indoor and outdoor environment suggest that first responders may underestimate the spread of anthrax. For an indoor release, 58% did not think that other parts of the building would be affected and 3% thought no environmental decontamination was needed even in the room of the release. In fact, 15% thought they could put their personal protective gear on inside the building (as actually happened in 2001) when experience has shown these areas are contaminated. In the outdoor environment downwind transport was underestimated and cross-wind transport overestimated.

Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública

Water Environment Research

ABSTRACT lthough deviations from standard guidance for land application of biosolids occur in pra... more ABSTRACT lthough deviations from standard guidance for land application of biosolids occur in practice, their importance is largely unknown. A list of such deviations (plausible failure scenarios) were identified at a workshop of industry, regulators, and academic professionals. Next, a survey of similar professionals was conducted to rank the plausible failure scenarios according to their severity, frequency, incentive to ignore control measures, gaps in existing control processes, public concern, and overall concern. Survey participants rated intentional dumping (unpermitted disposal) as the most severe of the failure scenarios, lack of worker protection as the most frequent scenario, and application of Class A biosolids that have failed to meet treatment standards as the scenario for which incentives to ignore control measures are highest. Failure of public access restrictions to application sites was the scenario for which existing controls were judged the weakest; application of biosolids too close to wells was ranked highest for public concern and for overall concern. Two scenarios for which existing controls were considered weaker, site restriction violations and animal contact leading to human exposure, were also rated as frequently occurring. Both scenarios are related in that they (1) involve inappropriate access to a site before the required time has elapsed, and (2) could be addressed through similar biosolids management measures.

ABSTRACT This study investigates differences in men’s and women’s access to water and sanitation ... more ABSTRACT This study investigates differences in men’s and women’s access to water and sanitation in Leogane, Haiti (population ~300,000), a town situated at the epicenter of the January 2010 earthquake. While research suggests that women’s water and sanitation access is crucial to health, security, and equity in post-disaster situations, there are a number of limitations to current participatory approaches in post-disaster reconstruction. Underlining the social importance of water access in Haiti were reports citing a lack of potable water and sanitation as one factor contributing to the spread of cholera, which was introduced by UN peacekeepers after the earthquake. Limited access to water and sanitation facilities was also reported as a factor in the lack of security for women and children in the internally displaced persons camps. The results of this NSF-RAPID study are presented pertaining to gender issues in the context of post-disaster infrastructure reconstruction efforts in Haiti. We ask specifically how gender dimensions can be integrated into community-based participatory processes of water and sanitation planning, which face many challenges in post-disaster situations. We conclude that more robust participatory processes that include women and other marginalized groups in planning and decision-making can be used to elicit and support local knowledge, practices and preferences, ultimately leading to more appropriate infrastructure systems that will be more socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable.

Water International

Background: Though the benefits of centralized water systems (e.g. improved publichealth, environ... more Background: Though the benefits of centralized water systems (e.g. improved publichealth, environmental protection, streamlined operations, economy of scale, reliability) are well known, these systems are not always feasible or appropriate. In developing world settings there has been growing interest by infrastructure experts,researchers, and international lending institutions in decentralized means of improving access to drinking water. While decentralized water systems with independent components may be less vulnerable to systemic failures, hazards, and extreme environmental events, centralized water systems are often associated with a higher quality of life. This study investigates stakeholder preferences regarding water infrastructure issues in Leogane, Haiti (population~300,000), a town situated at the epicenter of the January 2010 earthquake. Methods: The methodology included a paper survey, semi-structured interviews, and a participatory workshop.

Engineering Studies

Participatory engineering has been called for after major catastrophes, yet is often bypassed due... more Participatory engineering has been called for after major catastrophes, yet is often bypassed due to countervailing implementation of 'quick fixes'. While immediate expert-driven solutions may be attractive, in the long-term they may be ineffective and inconsistent with the goals and capacities of local stakeholders. This article discusses the findings of National Science Foundation research by a team of three engineers and one social scientist who visited Haiti twice, four and seven months after the January 2010 earthquake, to investigate community participation in water and sanitation engineering processes in Léogâne. Methods included interviews with local inhabitants, water-sector actors, and government agencies; inspections of the engineering of the existing water and sanitation system; surveys of the affected population; and a participatory workshop to which numerous community-based organizations were invited. The research tests the potential for engineers to develop stakeholder-based participatory processes in a post-disaster context, which is hypothesized to produce better outcomes than traditional top-down authoritative planning processes. Focusing on the sanitation sector within a multi-stakeholder arena, the article analyzes the potential for various kinds of interactions amongst actors during unfolding decision-making processes at multiple scales, and assesses how each might contribute to better post-disaster engineering and ultimately more sustainable water and sanitation systems.

Water International, 2013

ABSTRACT The Haitian government passed a law in 2009 to decentralize water utility management and... more ABSTRACT The Haitian government passed a law in 2009 to decentralize water utility management and improve cost recovery. This study identifies the attitudes of the public towards payment for and management of water and sanitation, several months after the 2010 earthquake, through a survey (N = 171) and semi-structured interviews (N = 19) in Leogane, Haiti. A majority of survey respondents were willing to pay for water and sanitation, which aligns with the fee-based approach of the 2009 law. Significant differences were found between geographic locations, suggesting that a neighbourhood-level approach to water and sanitation is appropriate.