📖 Now Available on Kindle-A Journey Through Compassionate Care Across the Globe
I’m thrilled to share some exciting news-my latest book is now available on Kindle! 🎉 This collection brings together real-world accounts of caring for individuals in their most vulnerable moments, across diverse geographies, cultures, and crises. From resource-limited settings to emergency zones and everyday moments of human need, these stories reflect the resilience, compassion, and […]
Preparedness is Built Between Disasters
Preparedness is quiet work. It happens when there is no emergency headline, no urgency, and no external pressure. Between disasters, preparedness looks like training, relationship-building, policy development, and reflection. These moments determine how systems perform when crisis returns. Preparedness is not reactive. It is deliberate. The time to prepare is always before the next emergency. […]
What “Resilient Health Systems” Actually Look Like
Resilient health systems are not defined by their ability to respond once, but by their capacity to absorb shock, adapt, and continue functioning over time. Resilience includes: Resilience is built between disasters, not during them. Preparedness is the foundation of resilience, not its outcome. #adventureswithnursejamla
Technology Will Not Save us Without Prepared People
Technology plays a vital role in modern preparedness, but it is not a substitute for trained, adaptable humans. When systems fail, power goes out, or networks are disrupted, people remain the most critical resource. Preparedness planning must account for low-tech and no-tech scenarios. Training, redundancy, and human judgment are essential during crises. Technology should support […]
Misinformation is a Disaster Risk Amplifier
Misinformation spreads faster than most pathogens. During emergencies, false or misleading information undermines trust, delays care, and fuels fear. Preparedness must include risk communication strategies that address misinformation proactively. This includes transparent messaging, trusted messengers, and digital literacy efforts. Public health emergencies are not only biological or environmental events, but they are also information events. […]
CBRNE Events: Why Preparedness Cannot Be Optional
Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) events are low-frequency but high-impact emergencies. Their rarity often leads to complacency, until preparedness gaps become catastrophic. CBRNE preparedness requires specialized training, interagency coordination, and clear communication protocols. Healthcare systems must be prepared to protect staff, manage contamination, and provide care under extreme conditions. Preparedness is not alarmism. […]
Climate Change is a Preparedness Failure, not a Future Problem
Climate-related health impacts are not theoretical. Extreme heat, wildfires, flooding, drought, and vector-borne disease expansion are already affecting health systems and communities. Preparedness failures appear when infrastructure is overwhelmed, populations are displaced, and health services are disrupted repeatedly. Climate change magnifies existing vulnerabilities and exposes gaps in emergency planning, housing policy, and health equity. Preparedness […]
Emerging Public Health Threats, we are Still Not Ready For
Public health preparedness is often shaped by the last crisis rather than the next one. While lessons from recent emergencies matter, preparedness that only looks backward leaves systems vulnerable to emerging threats already on the horizon. These include climate-driven disasters, antimicrobial resistance, cyber disruptions to health infrastructure, industrial accidents, and complex humanitarian emergencies. Many of […]
What is in a Name?
My name was given to me by my paternal grandmother. It is her namesake. It has been in our family for generations. My name is more than what you call me. It carries the history, the struggles and the stories, of all those who had the name before me.
Preparedness Without Justice is Incomplete
Preparedness is often framed as technical competence, but it is also a moral commitment. Who we prioritize, who we protect, and whose voices we elevate reveal the values underlying preparedness efforts. Preparedness without justice reinforces existing inequities. Preparedness with justice seeks to reduce harm, restore dignity, and protect those most at risk. As this week […]