221.686.01
Health Interventions in Humanitarian Emergencies

Location
East Baltimore
Term
3rd Term
Department
International Health
Credit(s)
2
Academic Year
2024 - 2025
Instruction Method
In-person
Class Time(s)
Monday, 3:30 - 5:20pm
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Paul Spiegel
Chiara Altare
Contact Name
Paul Spiegel
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Description
Gain critical skills to address urgent public health and healthcare issues in humanitarian emergencies, focusing on vulnerable populations in LMICs. Learn to design and implement health surveillance systems and manage disease outbreaks in emergency settings. Develop strategies to address communicable and non-communicable diseases, mental health, and RMNCH in resource-constrained environments. Acquire practical expertise in delivering essential health services to displaced populations, contributing to global health security. Integrate key health components within humanitarian contexts, ensuring appropriate and context-specific care for affected populations.
Focuses on providing essential public health and healthcare interventions in humanitarian emergencies, specifically for persons affected by conflict and natural disasters, including forcibly displaced populations (e.g. refugees, and internally displaced persons). Focuses primarily on the health needs of populations in low and middle-income countries, where health systems are often fragile. Builds upon concepts from the Introduction to Humanitarian Emergencies course (221.613) and covers the following areas: epidemiological assessment; control of communicable diseases, including epidemics; control of non-communicable diseases; mental health; reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health (RMNCH); nutrition; and surveillance/health information systems.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify and integrate key components of reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health (RMNCH) in humanitarian contexts
  2. Describe the essential elements of primary and secondary public health and healthcare services for displaced populations, including service delivery in resource-constrained environments
  3. Assess the specific health needs of populations affected by humanitarian emergencies
  4. Evaluate effective approaches to addressing various health sectors including RMNCAH, mental health and nutrition issues among conflict/disaster-affected and displaced persons
  5. Develop strategies for the management of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including epidemics, within displaced and vulnerable populations
  6. Design and implement health surveillance systems tailored for use in emergency settings
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 20% Participation
  • 40% Case studies
  • 40% Digital Simulation
Instructor Consent
Consent required for some students
Consent Note
Consent is required for students who have not completed 221.613 Introduction to Humanitarian Emergencies
Consent Contact
pbspiegel@jhu.edu
Special Comments

221.613 Introduction to Humanitarian Emergencies is strongly recommended. However, completion of this course, while helpful, is not required. There will be some optional lectures from 221.613 Intro to Humanitarian Emergencies for students who have not completed that course.