Course syllabus for Project planning and response in disasters and health crises

Projektplanering och insatser i katastrofer och hälsokriser

Essential data

Course code: 9K9009
Course name: Project planning and response in disasters and health crises
Credits: 3
Form of Education: Contract education (credits)
Main field of study: Public Health in Disasters
Level: AV - Second cycle
Grading scale: Fail (U) or pass (G)
Department: Department of Global Public Health
Decided by: Education Committee GPH
Decision date: 2024-09-24
Course syllabus valid from: Spring semester 2025

Specific entry requirements

At least 120 credits, or at least two years', for the course and according to the employer, relevant work experience.

Outcomes

The overall aim of the course is for the participant to be able to plan for health response with a health system perspective in disasters and health crises, with a focus on international humanitarian programs, and at the same time reflect on ethical dilemmas that may arise, for instance between different actors.

At the end of the course the participant should be able to:

  • plan for health response projects in a disaster or health crisis based on important health system components
  • describe important components within WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), logistics, supply and shelter and how these are crucial for people's health
  • discuss and problematize health interventions, different actors and possible ethical dilemmas that may arise

Content

  • Systems thinking in health response in disasters and health crises
    • Existing health care and health system
    • Humanitarian actors and other organisations
  • Community based health programs
  • Project planning
  • Principles for monitoring and evaluation
  • HR - responsibility and dilemmas and mental health for you and your team
  • Logistics, shelter, water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH)
  • Moral stress and ethical dilemmas in disasters and health crises
  • Power and politics in humanitarian assistance

    Project planning and response in disasters and health crises, 3.0 credits


    Grading scale: GU

Teaching methods

The course runs over two weeks, where half of the course consists of web-based distance studies and a final project work, and half of the course consists of interactive campus days.

Examination

The course is examined through project work individually or in groups. In work done in groups, the contribution of each group member will be assessed. The participant receivesthe grade Passed (G) or Failed (U).

The course includes compulsory educational elements. In order to be approved, participation in these is also required. The examiner assesses if, and in that case how, absence from compulsory educational elements can be compensated for. Before the participant has participated in the compulsory educational elements or compensated the absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions, the final course results will not be reported. Absence from a compulsory educational component may imply that the participant cannot compensate for the missed compulsory educational element until the next time the course is given.

Limitation of number of occasions to write the exam
The number of occasions to write the exam is regulated in the contract for executive education.

Transitional provisions

The course is an executive education and transitional provisions are regulated in the contract.

Other directives

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Committee for Higher Education.

The course language is English.

Literature and other teaching aids

Additional material and reference literture will be added during the course

  • Health in Humanitarian Emergencies: Principles and Practice for Public Health and Healthcare Practitioners, Townes, David, Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2018 - 1 online resource (504 pages) ISBN: 9781107477261, LIBRIS-ID: nxptc9rxl8xz7jq8, Table of contents / Abstracts, *
  • Jacobsen, Introduction to Global Health, Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2018 LIBRIS-ID: 22540864, *
  • Eriksson, Anneli, Estimating needs in disasters, University of Bergen, 2020 *
  • Cuesta, Gil, Improving the evidence base of health interventions in humanitarian crises, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020 *
  • Clinical guidelines: Diagnosis and treatment manual for curative programmes in hospitals and dispensaries, Medecins Sans Frontieres, 2023 https://medicalguidelines.msf.org/en, *
  • Essential drugs: Practical guidelines:, Médecins Sans Frontières, 2023 https://medicalguidelines.msf.org/en, *
  • A Guidance document for medical teams responding to health emergencies in armed conflicts and other insecure environments, World Health Organization. Geneva, 2021 https://extranet.who.int/emt/guidelines-and-publications, *
  • The Sphere handbook, Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response, The Sphere project, 2018 https://spherestandards.org/wp-content/uploads/Sphere-Handbook-2018-EN.pdf,
  • Classification and minimum standards for emergence medical teams, World Health Organization: Geneva, 2021, 2021 https://extranet.who.int/emt/guidelines-and-publications, *