Citation

Dubouloz M. Int. J. Disaster Med. 2003; 1(1): 21-24.

Affiliation

Health Development Counselling & Audit Geneva Switzerland

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15031430310013438

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objectives To develop and evaluate a course specifically designed for senior managers from health and health-related sectors with responsibilities in the area of emergency preparedness and management. In particular, demonstrating ways to implement risk management policies at community level and train health managers in policy, planning and organizational aspects of risk management through standardizing knowledge of key technical areas in health and health-related disciplines.

Methodology A residential part of the course was designed including five modules: planning, disaster medicine, epidemiology, hazardous material and bio-terrorism, public health and urban search and rescue. The participants had to deliver individual presentations of selected topics based on personal experience and expertise. After successful completion of a written examination, the participants were awarded with a certificate for this part of the course from an accredited university institution in disaster medicine. The participants were given the opportunity to continue writing a memoir (short thesis) based on field studies, literature and computer research during the 6 months following the course. An accepted memoir resulted in a University Diploma in Vulnerability Reduction and Emergency Preparedness.

Results During 1995-2001, five courses were organised with a total of 114 participants from 22 countries. Forty of these participants continued to examination for University Diploma. Evaluation showed that the delegates, most of whom had extensive experience of disaster relief work, considered that the objectives of the course were accurate and were appropriately met and fulfilled by the design of the course.

Conclusion The course filled an important gap in presenting the management of major emergencies and disasters as a development issue and a community risk management strategy rather than a humanitarian response issue. The design of the course included a lengthy residential stay at a centre with facilities that allowed efficient provision of education on this level and also provided a base for continued research activity and establishment of an international network for future global collaboration.