Public Health in Humanitarian Crises

About this course: This course introduces a set of public health problems experienced by people affected by natural disasters and/or conflict. It discusses the many changes in people’s lives when they are uprooted by a disaster, ranging from changes in disease patterns, access to health care, livelihoods, shelter, sanitary conditions, nutritional status, etc. We will explore what humanitarian interventions could look like if we want to mitigate the effects of disasters. The course content is a mix of theoretical knowledge and many practical examples from recent disasters. We think this course is unique because it contains so many practical ‘real-life’ examples and is taught be instructors and guest lecturers who together have over 200 years of experience in this field. The course consists of 10 modules totaling approximately 9-10 hours of delivered content with an additional 2-3 hours of self-work (quizzes and writing and evaluating a short peer-review assignment) as well as lively discussions forums. The course has been designed in a way that each module builds on the lessons of previous modules. However, modules can be accessed in any order and some can stand alone. You do not have to pay for this course if you choose to enroll without a certificate. Sometimes referred to as auditing, enrolling without a certificate means that you will have access to all of the videos, quizzes, assignments, and discussions. The only difference is that you will not receive a certificate upon completion. Click the Enroll Without A Certificate link to sign up and begin the course. Even if you enroll in a session that has yet to begin, you may access most of the course materials right away by clicking the Preview Course Materials link. However, you will have to wait for the session to begin before posting on the discussion forum or accessing the final peer-reviewed assessment. Visit the Learner Help Center for details about session schedules.

Who is this class for: This course is for anyone with an interest to learn more about public health in humanitarian crises. You don’t need to have to hold a Bachelor or Master Degree in a related field or have a lot of experience in the field on this. Neither do you need a degree in health. If you have an interest in the subject, and you are willing to dedicate some time to learn about this, that’s all what we want from you.

Created by:  Johns Hopkins University

• Taught by:  Mija Ververs, Senior Associate

  Health Systems

• Taught by:  Gilbert Burnham, MD, Professor

  International Health

Level Beginner Commitment 5 weeks, 2-3 hours per week Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.9 stars Average User Rating 4.9See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Johns Hopkins University The mission of The Johns Hopkins University is to educate its students and cultivate their capacity for life-long learning, to foster independent and original research, and to bring the benefits of discovery to the world.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


Module 1: Humanitarian Disasters and Public Health
In this module we will define what we mean by disasters, hazards, risks and vulnerabilities. We look at patterns and trends and understand the role of public health in disasters.


6 videos, 3 readings expand

1. Video: Introduction to Public Health in Humanitarian Crisis
2. Reading: Course Schedule Flexibility
3. Reading: Meet Gilbert
4. Video: Introduction to Humanitarian Disasters and Public Health
5. Video: Introduction
6. Video: Disaster Trends
7. Reading: Meet Paul
8. Video: Introduction to the Role of Public Health in Humanitarian Emergencies
9. Video: The Role of Public Health in Humanitarian Emergencies

Graded: Module 1: Humanitarian Disasters and Public Health

Module 2: Humanitarian Actors and Coordination
There are many humanitarian actors that play a role in a disaster. This module describes many of them and also looks at various coordination models that are used.


6 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Reading: Meet Mija
2. Video: Introduction to Humanitarian Actors and Coordination
3. Video: Humanitarian Actors and Coordination
4. Video: Introduction to Humanitarian Coordination
5. Video: Humanitarian Coordination
6. Video: Humanitarian Coordination Models
7. Video: A Practical Example of Humanitarian Coordination
8. Discussion Prompt: Humanitarian Crises in the News

Graded: Module 2: Humanitarian Actors and Coordination

WEEK 2


Module 3: Water and Sanitation
This module describes the burden of, and mechanisms of, sanitation and water-related diseases in humanitarian crises. We also illustrate the various strategies and priorities that can be used to reduce outbreaks of those diseases.


5 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Reading: Meet Les
2. Video: Introduction to Water and Sanitation
3. Video: Water and Sanitation
4. Video: Sanitation Options
5. Video: Water Supply Options
6. Video: The Priorities

Graded: Module 3: Water and Sanitation

Module 4: Livelihoods and Food Security in Humanitarian Crises



Disasters affect livelihoods. This module illustrates how and what livelihoods strategies families use to cope with a crisis. We also describe what food security entails and ways to assess it. We look at various livelihoods support programs that can be used in disaster settings.


4 videos expand

1. Video: Introduction to Livelihoods and Food Security
2. Video: Livelihoods and Food Security in Humanitarian Crises
3. Video: Food Security
4. Video: Livelihoods Support Programming
5. Discussion Prompt: Your Reaction

Graded: Module 4: Livelihoods and Food Security in Humanitarian Crises

WEEK 3


Module 5: Nutrition in Humanitarian Crises
This module looks at who is at risk to become malnourished in a disaster context and why that is the case. We will describe various types of malnutrition, the treatment and various preventative actions.


5 videos expand

1. Video: Introduction to Nutrition in Humanitarian Crises
2. Video: Nutrition in Humanitarian Crises
3. Video: A Case Study in Malnutrition
4. Video: Types of Malnutrition
5. Video: Treatment and Prevention of Acute Malnutrition
6. Discussion Prompt: Acute Malnutrition

Graded: Module 5: Nutrition in Humanitarian Crises

Module 6: Management of Diseases in Humanitarian Crises



This module examines the patterns of disease in affected populations. We will understand how the changes in population characteristics as well as life styles have changed the nature of the burden of disease populations from that of predominantly communicable to a pattern of non communicable diseases.


4 videos expand

1. Video: Introduction to Management of Diseases in Humanitarian Crises
2. Video: Management of Diseases in Humanitarian Crises
3. Video: Managing an Outbreak of a Communicable Disease
4. Video: Non-Communicable Disease In Disasters

Graded: Module 6: Management of Diseases in Humanitarian Crises

WEEK 4


Module 7: Health Care in Humanitarian Emergencies



Disasters put special strains on the provision of health services as demands increase and resources to meet these needs diminish. The six major components of health services may be each damaged in different ways, and all can require urgent attention. This is all discussed in this module.


5 videos expand

1. Video: Introduction Health Care in Humanitarian Emergencies
2. Video: Health Care in Humanitarian Emergencies
3. Video: Parts of a Health Service
4. Video: Introduction to Types of Health Services
5. Video: Types of Health Services

Graded: Module 7: Health Care in Humanitarian Emergencies

Module 8: Shelter in a Humanitarian Setting
In this module we talk about shelter and what it means. We describe how and which shelter solutions contribute towards immediate and longer-term recovery of people affected by disasters.


3 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Reading: Meet Martin
2. Video: Introduction to Shelter in a Humanitarian Setting
3. Video: Shelter in a Humanitarian Setting
4. Video: Shelter Solutions
5. Discussion Prompt: Finding Shelter

Graded: Module 8: Shelter in a Humanitarian Setting

WEEK 5


Module 9: Protection of Displaced Populations: Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
Many disasters cause populations to be displaced. The module on the protection of displaced populations explores the international protection of individuals in relation to public health, human rights, and international humanitarian law.


7 videos, 1 reading expand

1. Reading: Meet Jana
2. Video: Introduction to Protection of Displaced Populations
3. Video: Protection of Displaced Populations: Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
4. Video: The Displaced Populations
5. Video: International Law
6. Video: International Humanitarian Law (IHL)
7. Video: Refugee Law and Refugee Protection
8. Video: Solutions for Refugee Situations
9. Discussion Prompt: Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Graded: Module 9: Protection of Displaced Populations: Human Rights & Humanitarian Law

Module 10: Emerging Risks, Challenges, and Opportunities for Future Humanitarian Emergencies



The potential for future disasters is great, and each having important public health components. New resources and new approaches will be needed to address these disasters and to help countries to recover economies and livelihoods. This module discusses the challenges and future directions in humanitarian assistance.


5 videos expand

1. Video: Introduction to Emerging Risks, Challenges, and Opportunities for Future Humanitarian Emergencies
2. Video: Changing Risk Patterns for Humanitarian Emergencies
3. Video: Introduction to Challenges and Opportunities for Future Humanitarian Emergencies
4. Video: Challenges and Opportunities for Future Humanitarian Emergencies
5. Video: Future Opportunities

Graded: Module 10: Emerging Risks and Opportunities for Future Humanitarian Emergencies
Graded: Current Crises Around the World