Entry requirements

University degree, minimum of 120 credit points, in medicine, nursing, nutrition or another area relevant to international health.

Aims

The aim of the course is to give persons interested in humanitarian assistance basic knowledge in the field and to give persons experienced in humanitarian assistance the possibility to be updated. The course is designed to introduce the participants to the most common health problems in humanitarian crises and to examples of interventions for those problems, as well as to increase their awareness of international standards and familiarity with international organisations working in the field.

Content

The course covers the following specific topics:

Public health and health consequences of disasters.

The functioning of humanitarian assistance, especially in complex emergencies.

International standards and guidelines for humanitarian assistance activities.

Health care systems for pretecting public health in disasters.

An introduction to the application of epidemiology in disasters, includingneeds-assessment techniques.

Disease control and control of epidemics in ermergencies.

Food aid, including famine theory, good distributiojn, and food interventions.

Promoting reprodictive health and preventing sexual violence in humanitarian crisis situations.

Prividing services for children in especially-displaced-persons camps, includingmonitoring and surveilance.

Post-disaster management, and evaluation of interventions.

Instruction

The course is taught through lectures, case studies, and individual and group assisnments.

Assessment

Participants' work is evaluated through written and verbal assignments, both individual and group, through the cource.

The examination mark passed or failed is used.