Journal of School of Public Health and

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Natural disasters cause millions of death and disability and major financial losses world wide every year. The major concern of our health system has already been to reduce physical mortality and morbidity. While such events may be a considerable source of stress for the survivors and cause serious and long-lasting psychiatric complications. The purpose of this study was to assess the function of rescuers in mental health service delivery to survivors of Bam earthquake in four steps Rescuing, Emergency services, Transportation of the injured survivors and Treatment in the first 2 weeks after the earthquake. For reaching the purpose 4 groups of the survivors were selected: first group was the healthy survivors (>15 years) living in Bam after the earthquake, the second group was healthy survivors (<15 years) living in Bam after the earthquake, the third group was the injured survivors admitted in Kerman and Tehran hospitals and the last group was the Relatives who accompanied the injured survivors. 2 weeks after the earthquake a questionnaire including questions about, demographic data, function of rescuers in rescuing and emergency services steps, informing the survivors of their relatives condition and Condoling with the survivors and mental health services delivery was filled for each of the cases. In all groups, more than 85% of the cases who needed help and rescued from the load of the earthquake were rescued by their relatives and rescuers of the Red Crescent Society or other governmental organization just had a little portion (5%)in this field. Only 25%of the cases who needed help and rescuing from the load of the earthquake were rescued in the first hour after the earthquake. Only 40% of the cases were sympathized by their rescuers. About 65% of the cases had enough information about their relatives. 40% of the cases were prevented from crying by rescuers. Only 30% of the cases said that they knew addict individuals who were hot given alternative materials. 30/% of the children had played during 2 weeks after earthquake and 42/% of them had facilities for playing. Regarding to all studied groups rescue activities, primary care services and transfers have been performed by relatives and domestic people , therefore general training and organizing CBO (community Based organization) for providing services in disasters especially in regions which are at high risk of earthquake will be useful for reducing the injuries. According to this research rescuers are in serious need of training in mental health services and that major areas of education need are: using counseling techniques, providing the necessary information for the survivors and stress management techniques.

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Background and Aim: The role of fresh water snails as the intermediary host in transmitting parasitic infestations in man and animals is well known. In Iran, urinary schistosomisasis is known to be endemic in the Khuzestan Province, south-west of the country. Considering the Egyptian experience concerning the negative effects of Aswan Dam construction on expanding the prevalence of human bilharziasis, the possible role of huge agro-industrial sugar-cane projects on eliminating schistosomiasis in the only known endemic province of Khuzestan in Iran came to our attention. The main objective of this study was to identify the species of fresh water snails in a vast area under cultivation of sugar cane in Khuzestan province, S.W. Iran.

Methods and Materials: Thirty locations (points) under cultivation of sugar-cane in the area were selected for snail collection. In the selected localities there existed drains, canals, ditches, and water stands. Preliminary identification of snails was performed at the time of collection. A more complete taxonomical study was made after the samples were transferred to the laboratory of Dezful Health Research station.

Results: The total number of snails collected was 3825 snails, and seven different species were identified: Physa sp . (29%), Gyraulus sp. (19%), Melanoides sp. (16%), Bellamya sp. (14%), Melanopsis sp. (12%), L. gedrosiana, (7%)L. truncatula(2%). No Bulinus truncatus was seen .

Conclusion: Most of these snails are capable of getting involved in the life cycle of some zoonotic helminth parasites, e.g., Fasciolid and Heterophyd. These findings are encouraging. However, in order to avoid any possible undesirable effects on the public's health, constant monitoring, as well as annual malacological surveys, is essential.