Global health, disasters and health crises, 3 credits

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

The aim of the course is to give the participant an overall understanding of global health and how disasters and health crises affect public health. In addition, it aims to give insight into how international health response can be planned and organized, with a focus on international humanitarian response. 

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

• describe and explain the global health situation and factors that influence trends and variations, as well as summarize strategies relevant to improved global health
• explain principles and prioritization and triage in mass casualty situations
• identify, interpret and compile information on the interaction between the vulnerability and various hazards/threats and which health problems dominate in disasters and health crises
• make an overall analysis of a health system in a disaster or health crisis
• explain the principles and regulations for humanitarian actors and for humanitarian assistance as well as the importance of context

The starting point of the cpurse is the global health situation and factors that determine it. It shows how different types of disasters and health crises interact with vulnerability and affect health overall. 

• Global health: trends and variations and health determinants
• Climate change and its impact on health
• Disasters and their impact on health
  • Conflicts,
  • Natural disasters 
  • Disease outbreaks
• Health systems and analysis of "disrupted" systems
• Basic principles of epidemiology in disasters and health crises
• Principles, rules and standards for international humanitarian assistance (focus on health)
• Humanitarian assistance: main actors, mandates and coordination
• Methods for needs assessments
• Simulation and exercise for handling mass casualty scenarios.

The course runs over two weeks, where one half of the course consists of web-based distance studies, including a final project work (context analysis and health system analysis), and half of the course of interactive campus days, including exercises in mass casualty triage.

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 receives the grade Passed (G) or Failed (U).

Compulsory participation
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.

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

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

The course language is English.