Main description:

A health coordinator in the field is required to quickly assess the needs of a population in a humanitarian emergency, initiate start-up procedures, and coordinate the response over a period of months or longer. The efficiency and effectiveness of this process depends on the experience, knowledge, and skills of the coordinator. Essentials of Medical Coordination in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies provides a practical overview for health coordinators in assessing, coordinating, and implementing medical and public health responses in disaster and conflict environments. The book aims to achieve this in two parts. Part one covers foundational information such as the role of the coordinator; project assessment and start-up; standards, protocols, and guidelines; project strategy and accountability; and basic epidemiological measurements and tools. Part two goes on to discuss the implementation of programs and services like nutrition, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), management of chronic disease, community health promotion, sexual and reproductive health, health information systems and disease surveillance. With the addition of useful appendices and case studies, Essentials of Medical Coordination in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies is a resource for those in the medical, public health, and international humanitarian aid sectors who care about the health of populations at risk.

Contents:

Part 1: Foundation
1. Elements of low resource and conflict environments
2. Humanitarian health systems: one sector within a coordinated response
3. Standards, protocols, guidelines
4. The role of the coordinator
5. Assessment and start-up
6. The project proposal: essential elements
7. Basic epidemiological measurements and tools
8. Team management and coordination

Part II: Implementation
9. Medical logistics
10. Primary health care
11. Sexual and reproductive health
12. Emergency medical care
13. Laboratory and safe blood transfusion
14. Surgical services
15. Trauma surgery in armed conflict
16. Expanded program on immunization (EPI)
17. Nutrition
18. Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)
19. Management of non-infectious disease
20. Community health promotion
21. Health information systems and disease surveillance
22. Humanitarian medics and human rights

Appendices
1. Sample job descriptions for medical/health coordination
2. Indicators by health care sector
3. Commonly used epidemiological tools
4. Sample training outlines by sector
5. Universal precautions
6. Minimum standards for aseptic technique