RUB: Medicine and Public Health in Humanitarian Action

The Course addresses the relation between (a) (social) science, (b) policies (programmes) and (c) the grass-root reality of projects. Information, knowledge, communication, and science: Today, these aspects are related in characteristic ways. Science pretends (and hopes) to be a driving force in the dominant (western) type of modernity. The Course will expose and analyse the under-complexity of most of our academic approaches, and discuss ways to cope with these shortcomings. To what degree do scientific world-views (“theories”) influence strategies, programmes, and projects? Answers to this question depend largely on the power-relations between the main “players” of humanitarian actions. They dispose of more or less power of definition, i.e. the power to choose from the rich offer of academic views. Whether and to what degree these science-driven programmes can be effectively and efficiently implemented on project level in the field, is another issue addressed by the Course. 

Health in Emergencies
Mental Health
Epidemiology
Communicable Diseases
Management of operative emergencies
WASH & Vaccinations
LRRD, DRR and DO
Public Health

The module begins with introductory lectures focusing on basic principles of medical relief-operations and will continue with a practical approach to relevant relief operations. It continues with these two parallel traces through the first semester, deepening the necessary academic knowledge on one side and the comparison with the observed relief-operation. 

In the whole module, medical relief-operations are seen as a completion and not a replacement of former development efforts and special attention is given to approaches that lead to sustainable improvements in disaster-prevention and disaster-preparedness as one component of future relief activities. 

The Sphere Project (2011): Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response. Hobbs the Printers: Hamshire, UK. 
MSF (1997), Refugee Health; An approach to emergency situations, Chapter: Measles Immunization, pp. 55-65; Chapter: Food and Nutrition, pp. 81-113
Connolly, Máire A (2004), Communicable diseases in complex emergencies: impact and challenges, Lancet
Integrated Food Security Classification, Technical Manual 1.1