James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

TM5551:03

International Health Crisis Management *

20 lectures, 15 hours workshops, 15 hours other contact, 15 hours flexible delivery. Block mode Semester 1.

Available to students enrolled in a postgraduate program of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine or as approved by the Head of School.

Staff: Assoc. Professor T Taufa.

This subject will examine a range of issues relating to the securing and sustainability of health services in crisis and post crises settings. They include: geo-political and ethical issues; the diplomacy and division of responsibility between health services, local political structures, other aid agencies and occupying and peacekeeping forces and their change over time; methodologies for surveying local health status and needs; priority setting and logistics; infrastructure, workforce and supply requirements for the provision of primary care and public health infrastructure; program development and delivery; sustainable transition from crisis, to post crisis to permanent health services; cross-cultural issues for health staff; issues related to personal and staff safety.

Learning Objectives:

1. gain insight into the geo-political factors which have led to crises;
2. identify ethical dilemmas facing agencies and staff;
3. critically analyse issues of diplomacy and division of responsibility between health services, local political structures, other aid agencies and occupying and peacekeeping forces and their change over time;
4. develop survey methodologies for local health status and needs;
5. develop skills associated with priority setting and logistics and program development and delivery;
6. identify infrastructure, workforce and supply requirements for the provision of primary care and public health infrastructure;
7. identify issues related to sustainable transition of health services from crisis, to post crisis phasers to permanent health services;
8. analyse cross-cultural issues for health staff in these settings and become familiar with codes of practice;
9. identify issues related to personal and staff safety.

Assessment by in-course presentation, examination, post-course project.