Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102574

Coordinator Nidhi Wali Opens in new window

Description The health, socio-economic, and political aspects of conflicts and disasters are complex and multidimensional requiring political commitment and coordinated and effective prevention. This has been evident with the rise in extreme weather events, COVID-19 pandemic and protracted crises. This subject uses critical analyses with a sustainability and gender lens to understand public health responses in emergency situations. Students will be introduced to rapid health assessment protocols in, health priorities, linkages of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) to health outcomes, health inequities and gender disparities and the prevention of public health effects of, complex emergencies. It provides students with the skills and knowledge required to understand the politics of public health response in emergency situations. They will gain the practical skills to assess and respond to health needs of populations, evaluate the evidence used to inform public health policy and the effectiveness of different decision-making practices in emergency situations.

School Social Sciences

Discipline Studies in Human Society, Not Elsewhere Classified.

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Critique the principles that govern health response in complex emergencies, including the responsibility to respond and protect, and the roles and responsibilities of various actors.
2. Articulate relevant policy responses pertaining to decision making frameworks including when to respond, who does what and when, and when to leave or phase out the intervention.
3. Critically review the political and ethical dimensions of public health response in complex emergencies and how they relate to international agendas.
4. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of available evidence and epidemiological data that inform the public health response.
5. Analyse both internal and external forces and realities that may facilitate or impede the delivery of public health services and programs in complex emergencies.
6. Demonstrate the practical skills to plan, implement, and evaluate evidence-based prevention programs.
7. Deploy critical appraisal skills to evaluate the effectiveness of NGO coordination and interagency decision making in the humanitarian response.

Subject Content

- Multidimensional health, socio-economic, and political aspects of conflicts and disasters
- Analysis of the requisite political commitment and coordinated effort for effective prevention
- Critical analyses and their use in understanding the politics of public health response in emergency situations
- Rapid health assessment protocols for priorities in health, and the prevention of public health effects of complex emergencies
- The development of practical skills in the evaluation of the evidence used to inform public health policy, and the effectiveness of different decision-making practices in emergency situations