AFRO-NETS> Health Emergencies in Large Populations (H.E.L.P. 99)

[Gilbert Burnham <gburnham@jhsph.edu>]

Health Emergencies in Large Populations (H.E.L.P. 99)
-----------------------------------------------------

July 12 - July 30, 1999
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore

July 19 - August 6, 1999
University of Hawaii, School of Medicine, Honolulu 

This three week course is designed to develop or improve the skills 
of persons and organisations providing emergency health services in 
humanitarian emergencies. The courses are co-sponsored by the Inter-
national Committee of the Red Cross (Geneva), the American Red Cross 
and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). This year the World 
Medical Association will also participate. The interactive course is
limited to 25 persons each, and is taught through case studies, simu-
lations, exercises, and group discussions, all of which are facili-
tated by experts in the field of humanitarian assistance.

By the end of the course participants will be able to:
- select methods of assessments for specific emergency situations in
  the field;
- carry out a general or a specific assistance health program for a
  displaced population;
- foresee the possible extension of immediate assistance projects
  into development programs;
- develop a common approach to provision of services among humanitar-
  ian organisations;
- monitor adequacy of services provided to affected populations.

Specific skills covered in the course -

Planning: The main steps in planning for health and health-related 
services are covered from assessment of needs through to the evalua-
tion of the effectiveness of the assistance.

Food and Nutrition: Methods of assessing nutritional status, and sam-
pling and surveillance methods are covered. This section includes the 
planning and organisation of food distribution and the establishment 
of feeding centers.

Environmental Health: The course addresses issues related to provi-
sion of safe water and adequate sanitation as well as energy sources 
and shelter for populations displaced.

Communicable Diseases: Strategies for control of common communicable 
diseases which occur in endemic and epidemic form are addressed. Also 
covered are integration of these activities with other sectors such 
as environmental health, education, community mobilisation and pre-
ventative programs.

Health Services: This section includes methods to determine support 
needed by existing medical facilities, the need for new facilities at 
various levels, and the standardisation of treatment protocols and 
algorithms. Co-ordination of health services within the context of 
other organisations, the refugees themselves, and national govern-
ments is considered.

Epidemiology: Epidemiologic terms are reviewed, and skills are ac-
quired in the selection of health indicators in emergency situations, 
methods for collecting data, data analysis in emergency situations, 
and the use of data to strengthen decision making.

Humanitarian Ethics: Issues presented include humanity, impartiality, 
neutrality, independence, and universality of intervention strate-
gies.

International Humanitarian Law: Included in this section are the fun-
damental principles of international humanitarian law, identification 
of categories of persons at risk, mobilisation of local authorities, 
decision about evacuation of health personnel, and neutral zones of 
peace.

Costs: Fees and materials for the three week course are US$ 1,500. 
Low cost student accommodations and meals are available both in Bal-
timore and Honolulu.

For further information contact:

Dr Gilbert Burnham
The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Department of International Health
615 North Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
mailto:gburnham@jhsph.edu

Dr Skip Burkle
University of Hawaii
Center of Excellence
1 Jarrett-White Road
Honolulu, HI 96859, USA
mailto:hastingsp@website.tamc.amedd.army.mil

Dr Pierre Perrin
International Committee of the Red Cross
19, Avenue de la Paix
1202 Geneva, Switzerland
mailto:pperrin.gva@icrc.org

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