Health in emergencies handbook

It is not intended to replace the Field Operations Guide (FOG) but to give quick and usable up to date information for decision making using specific scenarios. It is based on the latest know best practices in the field of health and supports the Sphere standards. The information will be presented according to context including complex emergencies and natural disasters both slow and rapid onset. Each section will be addressed separately to provide information on specific health concerns following a disaster and then present public health options for USAID/OFDA assistance. USAID/OFDA assistance can come in the form of technical support from the USAID/OFDA DC based Technical Assistance Group (TAG), basic management of the most common diseases causing morbidity and mortality, prevention activities as well as supply of commodities and capacity building. USAID/OFDA should always gear programming to provide support to the Ministry of Health (MOH) even if it has been compromised by the disaster. Programs should work in collaboration with the Health Cluster and with all partners in the field including the MOH, WHO, UNICEF, NGOs, Red Cross and other donors. Emergencies pass through phases including an immediate acute phase and then possibly to a more prolonged chronic phase. The type of disaster as well as the vulnerability of the population can influence the amount of time the emergency will continue. A sudden-onset natural disaster may have a high death rate early and requires only a few months of support to the health system. Complex emergencies and other slow-onset natural disasters may last for many years requiring extended service support. During the acute phase (first 3 months) priorities are for immediate humanitarian relief including life saving activities as well as ensuring that there is basic primary health care to manage the most common diseases afflicting the target population, appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene systems, shelter and food security. During the chronic phase/ or rehabilitation it is even more critical to strengthen the national primary health care system and increase efforts for prevention. During the transition phase or reconstruction USAID/OFDA health programming should seek to transition activities to the national government, other development donors such as USAID and international organizations such as NGOs. This is a living document and will be updated with new material as approaches to public health in disasters change. A section on nutrition will be integrated in the next version as well as new information for Pandemic Influenza. Future versions may also contain a section on mitigation. (Author abstract, modified)