Project planning and response in disasters and health crises

Objectives

The overall aim of the course is for the participant to be able to plan for health response with a health system perspective in disasters and health crises, with a focus on international humanitarian programs, and at the same time reflect on ethical dilemmas that may arise, for instance between different actors.

At the end of the course, the participant should be able to:

• Plan for health response projects in a disaster or health crisis based on important health system components.
• Describe important components within WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), logistics, supply, and shelter and how these are crucial for people’s health.
• Discuss and problematize health interventions, different actors, and possible ethical dilemmas that may arise.

Content

The course focuses on:

• Systems thinking in health response in disasters and health crises.
  • Existing health care and health system.
  • Humanitarian actors and other organizations.
• Community-based health programs.
• Project planning.
• Principles for monitoring and evaluation.
• Human Resources (HR) - responsibility and dilemmas and mental health for you and your team.
• Logistics, shelter, water, hygiene, and sanitation (WASH).
• Moral stress and ethical dilemmas in disasters and health crises.
• Power and politics in humanitarian assistance.

When and where

Dates: The course starts on April 29 and ends on May 13, 2025. Lectures on campus will take place from May 5 to May 9.

Course venue: Karolinska Institutet Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.

Target group

Licensed healthcare professionals and other professions who aim to work within the field of health response in disasters.

Course Managment

Anneli Eriksson, course leader, RN PhD, Research specialist, Centre for Research on Health Care in Disasters, Department of Global Public Health

Johan von Schreeb, MD, Professor Global Disaster Medicine, Department of Global Public Health

Martina Gustavsson, RN, MSc, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher

Hannah von Reding, MSc in Global Health, Project coordinator

Course syllabus

You can find the course syllabus here.

Price

11 000 SEK, excluding VAT per participant. Course literature is not included in the price.

Extra information

This is one of four courses that together provide you with the competencies, strategies, and tools to enable you to work as humanitarian health assistance staff. The four courses give a comprehensive preparation for health professionals. The first course and fourth course also comprise a useful introduction to the field for other professionals.

The other modules can be found here:

• Global health, disasters and health crises, 3 credits
• Disasters, health crises and communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as epidemic outbreaks, 3 credits
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), as well as child health in disasters and health crises, 3 credits

More information

For questions about the course content:

Anneli Eriksson, course leader

Karolinska Institutet, Department of Global Public Health

E-mail: anneli.eriksson@ki.se

For administrative questions:

Kristoffer Mörtsjö, project coordinator

Executive and Professional Education at Karolinska Institutet

E-mail: Kristoffer.mortsjo@ki.se

Registration

Registration is binding. For cancellations later than six (6) weeks before the start of the course, 50 percent of the course fee will be charged, and for cancellations later than three (3) weeks before the start of the course, the full course fee will be charged. For complete terms and conditions, see our general terms and conditions.

Please note that the course is subject to the condition that we receive a sufficient number of participants.