Environmental health in Padang, West Sumatra after a major earthquake

The earthquake that struck the city of Padang, West Sumatra on September 30, 2009 exposed a range of issues surrounding disaster management, environmental health, and development. This research is a case study of environmental health issues that developed following the earthquake, but that have links to the New Order [Orde Baru] period that ended in 1997. This period of Indonesia’s history was characterised by highly centralized administration, strong focus on development, and rapid urbanization and technological upgrading. The period of Reformation [Reformasi] that followed was socially turbulent and resulted in the inception of Regional Autonomy in 2001, under which a range of functions were devolved to kabupaten (county-level administrative areas) and city governments. While giving a great deal of latitude to local governments, Regional Autonomy has seen inexperienced local administrations struggle to develop the capacity to manage their own economy, education, health care, and other functions. This thesis focuses on key environmental health issues, including dengue fever, provision of water, disaster management and the reestablishment of services. It makes use of a range of sources including government records and reports, media coverage, and social media. The social and political forces that have influenced efforts to develop disaster management policy and procedures are analysed using a policy stream approach that takes into account public, cultural, and media impacts. It is expected that the results of this project will provide insight into the nature of environmental health in West Sumatra and Indonesia in general, and will be relevant to other parts of the Malay world and Southeast Asia. Further, it is hoped that this case study Environmental Health Issues in Padang, West Sumatra After a Major Earthquake iv will serve as a model for the study of environmental health in developing countries, and will have implications for sustainable development and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Submission note: A thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Public Health & Human Biosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora.