Title:	Public Health in Emergencies
Keywords:	Vulnerable groups Outbreaks International/Global Health Humanitarian setting
Country:	Germany
Institution:	Germany - Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg
Course coordinator:	Revati Phalkey
Date start:	2025-05-12
Date end:	2025-05-23
About duration and dates:	10 working days
Classification:	advanced optional
Mode of delivery:	Face to face
Course location: Institute of Public Health Im Neuenheimer Feld 365, Room 007 D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
ECTS credit points:	3 ECTS credits
SIT: 90 SIT (40h lecture and 30h tutored group work, 20h self-study)
Language:	English
Description: Description: At the end of the course participants should be able to: • Explain the health and health systems impacts of natural disasters and complex emergencies • Recognise the needs for addressing gender-based violence and mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies • Explain the field epidemiological methods for health needs assessments and identify priorities in emergencies • Explain the principles of humanitarian assistance including International Humanitarian Law • Identify methods for quality assurance and minimum standard setting in humanitarian assistance
Assessment Procedures: Final examination using short essay questions and multiple choice based on the learning objectives (70%, individual mark) and group work presentation on selected topics (30%, group mark); passing mark is 60% for both parts together combined. Participants have the chance to re-sit the written exam not later than 4 weeks after announcement of results.
Content: The content of the course reflects up-to-date knowledge and experience with the impact assessment and management of natural disasters and complex emergencies in the health sector: • Humanitarian Assistance and International Law • Health and health systems impacts of natural disasters and complex emergencies • Relief to development continuum • Disaster preparedness and response, • Health Needs Assessment and priority setting in Emergencies • Gender based and sexual violence in emergencies, • Logistics, Safety and Security in Emergencies • Introduction to the SPHERE Standards • Health Systems Strengthening in Fragile Settings
Methods: The course uses participatory learning based on lectures (30 %), individual reading (10%), individual exercise (10%) plenary and group discussions (15%), facilitated group work and presentations (30%) and peer –feedback (5%).
Prerequisites: English: TOEFL test 580 or IELTS 6.5 or equivalent language skills; The course is intended for health professionals working in the field of humanitarian assistance. Candidates should preferably have at least 2 years work experience in developing countries.
Attendance: Maximum number of students (including tropEd students): 25
Selection: First come, first served
Fees: General admission: 1.750,- EUR reduced fee for tropEd students: 1.250,- EUR
Scholarships: None available
Major changes since initial accreditation: -- Revati Phalkey - Name changed from "Public Health and Disasters" to “Public Health in Emergencies” - The overall focus of the course has moved from refugee health to global public health in natural disasters and complex emergencies
Student evaluation: The SPHERE guide lecture should have coke earlier because it's so critical in all aspects of the humanitarian response There should also be way of bringing out clearly the concept of epidemic which is core to healthcare systems
Lessons learned: Over the years the course has been quite positively evaluated with main comments on sequence of the lectures rather than the content. We have made minor adjustments accordingly e.g. moving SPHERE to week 1. There is demand to have flexibility around content especially given the context of the pandemic where session content needed to be tweaked to accommodate changing landscapes for disasters. This also includes the link between climate change and disasters.
tropEd accreditation: Accredited 1999 in Basel. Re-accreditation: Edinburgh, September 2004 and in Bordeaux, January 2011 and in EC phone conference April 2016; Re-accredited EC phone conference Jul 2021. Valid until Jul 2026.
Remarks: Included as Elective in MScIH Residential Track
Email Address:	anne-kathrin.fabricius@uni-heidelberg.de
Date Of Record Creation:	2012-01-09 21:48:44 (W3C-DTF)
Date Of Record Release:	2012-01-10 04:03:10 (W3C-DTF)
Date Record Checked:	2021-07-27 (W3C-DTF)
Date Last Modified:	2024-10-16 07:22:03 (W3C-DTF)