PHEMAP - Modules

Detailed Objectives For The Modules Opening session This session welcomes the participants to ADPC and introduces them to their course. Each of the course partners introduces their organisation and makes a presentation about their work. The context and need for the course is explained as are the plans for the future of the collaboration between ADPC, WHO and JICWELS. The participants are invited to prepare a presentation on a relevant aspect of emergency management in their country, and these presentations will be made at various times during the course. Programme managers from ADPC will also be asked to make short presentations on their experience in Asia and the Pacific. The Context of Emergencies in Asia and the Pacific This session presents data to illustrate the context in which governments of the region are working in emergency management. It highlights the methodological difficulties involved in collecting data about disasters. It will use existing data to demonstrate how indicators and trend assessments could be prepared if good data was available and encourages participants to follow the models in collecting data in their own countries. An Introduction to Risk Management Risk management is an emerging area of interest for emergency managers. It is increasingly used as a tool to develop and monitor strategies for hazard and vulnerability reduction in communities. This module will give an overview of the subject and demonstrate how the techniques can be used by the health sector. Health Sector Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis This session outlines the major principles and steps in assessing the damages in health structure and analyzing the health needs in emergencies and disasters. It includes a strong emphasis on the policy and preparedness issues needed in order to have a good health assessment. Public Health in Emergencies
Epidemiology and reporting
	There is a difference between the epidemiology of disasters and epidemiology in disasters, and both are important management tools for any health sector response. This module will explore these issues and extract lessons for policy development and the preparation of health sector guidelines.
The Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases
	The impact of disasters on the incidence of communicable diseases depends largely on the hazard which caused the disaster. Significant outbreaks of any communicable disease are unusual after earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, but increased cases of common diseases are frequently seen after floods and tropical storms. The pattern is extremely variable for other types of hazards, depending on time of year, climate, endemic disease patterns, environmental factors and the baseline health status of the affected population. In situations of crowding, such as camps for refugees and displaced people, higher incidences of common diseases can be expected and outbreaks of unusual diseases may occur. This module will present information to help participants develop policies and guidelines to ensure that effective reporting and surveillance systems are established during an emergency so that outbreaks, if they do occur, will be detected early and managed effectively. Common misconceptions, such as the role of dead bodies in disease outbreaks and the risk of exotic disease outbreaks will be covered.
Environmental Health
	Much of post emergency morbidity is associated with problems related to water supply, sanitation, hygiene and vector control. Although the health sector does not always have direct responsibility in these areas, it has a close relationship with those agencies of government involved and is often responsible for setting technical standards and for quality control. Clear policies and guidelines will assist health sector staff in participating effectively in coordination mechanisms and joint programmes.
Nutritional issues in feeding disaster victims
	Although many of the victims of a disaster in developing countries will already be undernourished, it is not often that the opportunity to address nutritional issues in an emergency setting is taken, except in the case of refugees and displaced persons, who are totally dependent on food aid for a significant period of time. Long term displacement is unusual after natural disasters, where the majority of displaced victims return home soon after the event to start the process of rebuilding their homes and their lives. The problem in such cases is more of a breakdown in the normal food distribution system and therefore temporary lack of availability rather than absolute lack of food.
Psychosocial support and Mental Health
	This is an area frequently avoided in most emergency situations but its importance is increasingly being recognised. A high proportion of victims and responders in a disaster report symptoms of mental stress. This module will explore issues related to providing services to meet those needs.
Reproductive Health
	Reproductive health issues are often not addressed in the context of natural disasters. They remain highly relevant despite this. This module will encourage participants to address reproductive health issues as part of any emergency response.
The Management of Mass Casualties and Hospital Planning More than 95% of total morbidity in any disaster is due to trauma and disability (mental and physical) - the actual contribution of communicable diseases to total morbidity in a disaster needs to kept in perspective when planning the health sector response to any event. There is a tendency to over-respond to a theoretical potential for outbreaks of disease and to under-respond to the actual reality of large numbers of injured people requiring urgent and competent treatment. The outcome for victims of inappropriate or delayed interventions is not known. This module explores technical. planning and policy issues in mass casualty management and hospital preparedness. Managing Essential Drugs and Medical Supplies in Emergency Situations The delivery of inappropriate and unnecessary supplies is a feature of disaster response in the region. Most Ministries of Health do not have clear policies in this area while those that do rarely use data from recent disasters to review the type and quantity of supplies that are needed in their own contexts. This module will help participants to understand issues relevant to developing guidelines for the selection and distribution of medical supplies for relief, as well as for the acceptance of donations and relief aid. Public information and dealing with the media The media plays an important role in setting public opinion during an emergency and this is of particular importance to senior managers who must deal with the media during a crisis. Misunderstandings and rumours can cause great harm and the consequences can be as difficult a management problem as any outbreak of disease. This session will use recent examples of media involvement in emergency management issues as a basis for exploring how health staff and the media can work together. Recovery and Rehabilitation Issues for the Health Sector This area is the most important aspect of an emergency in terms of the cost to society yet it is an area in which governments there is very little guidance on best practice. Rehabilitation should ne seen as an opportunity to start with a clean slate and comprehensively address diverse issues such as hazard and vulnerability, environmental protection, land zoning, construction standards, sustainable development, equity in and access to services and urban planning. Professional Development Issues This modules will cover cross cutting issues in emergency management and explore some of non-technical skills relevant to the effective management of an emergency. The facilitators will provide an overview of the subject and use exercises to illustrate the learning points.