Public Health in the Humanitarian Action Context 2200-9HA-27
Week 1
Introduction to the Module – interdisciplinary context of public health and basic health needs
Week 2
International public health system and priorities in an emergency – international cooperation
and its challenges (1)
Overview of public health definitions, health determinants, social context of health and
health beliefs.
Week 3
International public health system and priorities in an emergency – international cooperation
and its challenges (2)
Communication and management in case of emergency – local and global events.
Responsibilities of local authorities.
Hurdles to effective cooperation between many partners
Week 4
Rapid Health Needs Assessment and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Humanitarian
Action (1)
Methodology of rapid health needs assessment.
Week 5
Rapid Health Needs Assessment and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Humanitarian
Action (2)
Model WASH – the basic model for needs assessment and shaping actions in public
health
Week 6
Food and Nutrition in an emergency and after it (1)
Food security and food safety – two main challenges in nutrition
Food-borne diseases and education on food processing
Week 7
Food and Nutrition in an emergency and after it (2)
Food-borne diseases and education on food processing
Week 8
Outbreaks of infectious diseases (1)
Main infectious diseases with potential of outbreak during a crisis and its vectors
(sources of germs).
Prevention of infectious diseases by vaccination schemes and isolation of infected
patients.
Week 9
Outbreaks of infectious diseases (2)
Epidemiological tools for disease monitoring and containment
Week 10
Psychosocial aspects of humanitarian actions and negotiations for health needs. (1)
Prevention of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Support for family member of
victims.
Week 11
Psychosocial aspects of humanitarian actions and negotiations for health needs. (2)
Social aspects of reconciliation in religious or military conflicts.
Week 12
Management of health and social resources (1)
Planning, mobilizing resources and operational schemes for coordination of
humanitarian actions. Cooperation with governmental and non-governmental donors.
Week 13
Management of health and social resources (2)
Evaluation of humanitarian actions – sharing experiences as a basics of building
international competence.
Week 14
Health care systems and sustainability of humanitarian help
Challenges to maintain the emergency solution in the health care system – threat of a
fragmented and interim support.
Exam week
Analysis of projects provided by students – what lessons can be drawn from previous
experiences?
Presentations and discussion on final assignment. Final conclusions and evaluation of the
module.
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Has a clear understanding of personal health and safety risks in disasters.
Has a comprehensive understanding of public health in different emergency contexts, including the impact of various humanitarian action interventions on the needs and rights of crisis-affected people.
Has demonstrated the ability to integrate a public health response into the often complex social and cultural environment of those affected informed by humanitarian principles.
Has developed a capacity to cope with personal health & security issues.
Has demonstrated the necessary skills for communicating public health situations and conclusions, to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Has demonstrated to possess the fundamental skills to plan and implement health interventions in emergencies regarding food security, water & environmental health, communicable diseases, psycho-social/psychological issues, health care services and health information systems.
Has demonstrated the capacity to take responsibility for specifying clear ethical standards in humanitarian intervention.
Assessment criteria
All participants will be requested to provide a 4 page report with a critical analysis of voluntary selected crisis or emergency. The task include literature research and selecting necessary information and drawing lessons sections (what went well and what should be improved).
Assessment criteria:
1. The scope of literature/fact research results (quantitative – at least 10 sources)
2. The critical approach for evaluating facts – drawing conclusions (qualitative – precision and logical relevance of conclusions).
Bibliography
Basic literature:
1. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees . Handbook for Emergencies. Geneva. Third Edition February, 2007 – downloadable at http://www.unhcr.org/472af2972.html
2. The Sphere Project. Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response. Available online: http://www.spherehandbook.org/en/the-humanitarian-charter/
3. Save the KidsUK. Toolkits: A practical guide to planning, monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment. Downloadable at: http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/resources/online-library/toolkits-practical-guide-planning-monitoring-evaluation-and-impact
Selected chapters from the reading above will be announced in advance a week before a relevant seminar. Additional short readings from CDC&P, UNICEF, WHO, UNHCR (not longer than 20 pages each) will be announced in advance during seminars and made available on NOHA Blackbord.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: