Refugee Health Care 



 
 November 22, 2009

 
Course Syllabus


 

Course Description

Addresses provision of basic health requirements for refugees and coordination of care among agencies concerned with them. Topics include epidemiologic assessment and control of communicable disease; nutrition and environmental sanitation; logistical support; and resettlement issues. Students or guest speakers present topics for group discussion.


Course Objectives

The goal of the course is to provide students with a better understanding of the issues related to the health care of refugees and internally displaced persons in developing countries.

The objectives of this course are to equip students with the basic skills needed for provision of health care to refugees. These include the areas of planning, epidemiological assessment, control of communicable diseases, information and surveillance systems, environmental sanitation methods, and meeting nutrition requirements in refugee situations. The course will provide an understanding of some other major refugee issues, such as protection of women refugees, an overview of international humanitarian law, documentation and prevention of human rights abuses, psychosocial and mental health, and logistics issues which affect refugees and displaced persons.

After successfully completing this course, you will be able to do the following:

  • Accurately assess the true needs and resources of populations displaced by natural or man-made disasters
  • Apply epidemiological information toward designing and monitoring relief activities, such as water and sanitation, food and nutrition, disease surveillance and control, immunization, and health services
  • Discuss the importance of other issues surrounding displaced persons, such as the international humanitarian law and human rights laws, protection of women and other vulnerable groups, psychosocial and mental health needs, and long-term solutions for refugees and displaced persons
  • Explain the value of collaborating with different players in the humanitarian field, including the affected community, local and international organizations, host governments, the United Nations, military forces, and the media

Course Format

The main content of this course is divided into sixteen separate lectures and three case studies to be completed over a period of eight weeks. Speakers for the course are drawn from a variety of backgrounds to expose participants to many areas which affect the health and provision of services to refugees.

Case studies are an important part of this course. As in real life, you will find that available information is incomplete and often conflicting. The three case studies are related and deal with various aspects of refugee health care, such as assessing an emergency, controlling an outbreak of communicable disease, and meeting food and nutritional needs of a displaced population. Case studies are to be done individually. Each includes an online self-assessment exercise against which you can check your results.

General and specific LiveTalk discussion sessions are held several times throughout the course by Dr. Burnham or a guest lecturer.

Time commitment: On average, students spent 16–20 hours per week.


Assignments and Grading Policy

All assignments should be submitted no later than the due date posted on the course schedule.

There are no examinations in this course. At the beginning of the course, please introduce yourself to the class via a BBS posting.

Your course grade will be based on the following:

Case Studies: 30% of your final grade (10% for each case study). Completing each case study will entail reading the text of the case study, and then answering a set of questions, which will be posted online.

  • Case Study 1: Introduction to Rapid Assessment
  • Case Study 2: Introduction to Control of Communicable Diseases
  • Case Study 3: Introduction to Nutrition

Final Paper: 60% of your final grade. This paper is to be submitted by each student. It should be about 2,500 words in length and should be well researched and referenced. It may cover any subject of interest to you that concerns refugees or displaced persons.

Course Participation: 10% of your final grade. Includes participation in LiveTalk sessions and BBS discussions and being engaged and active in accessing the content of the course.

 

Reading Materials

Please refer to the RHC Syllabus document in the Online Library for a detailed list of all the course "Readings" and "Resources" for each lecture

Required materials for this course include the following:

  • War and Public Health by Pierre Perrin ($30.00)
  • CD-ROM: Public Health Guide for Emergencies (2nd Edition)—The Johns Hopkins and Red Cross/Red Crescent ($1.00)
  • Readings in the Online Library (files categorized as "Readings")*

Ordering Info
You can order the textbook and CD-ROM by calling Lauren Burns at 443-287-4842 or by sending her an email message at lnburns@jhsph.edu. You'll need to provide her with your name and mailing address. The materials will be mailed to you along with an invoice. You will also be billed for shipping. A credit card authorization form will be included in the mailing with the invoice and can be returned by mail or fax to 410-614-1419.

* For students with additional interests in specific areas, various reading resources are posted in the Online Library, categorized as "Resources." These are not required readings. There are many more reading materials you can get in full text journals online at WelchWeb. You are encouraged to carry out additional Web searches for background materials for your paper.

 


Contact Information

Instructor

Dr. Gilbert Burnham, MD, MPH, PhD
Center for Refugees and Disaster Studies
615 North Wolfe Street, Room E8132
Baltimore, MD 21205
Phone: (410) 955-3928
Fax: (410) 614-1419
email: gburnham@jhsph.edu

Teaching Assistant(s)

Pritika Chatterjee, MA, MPH
Email: refhealt@jhsph.edu

Jamie Anderson
Email: refhealt@jhsph.edu


Help

Concerns
Contact
Concerns about course topics and assignments
Technical concerns about the functionality and operation of course Web pages (before emailing, please make sure that you can replicate the problem)
  • DEHelp, the central help system for all tech support inquiries related to DED courses

Technical help on weekends
  • JHSPH User Support: 410-955-3781
Concerns about your Internet connection
  • Your Internet service provider (e.g., AT&T, Erols, etc.)
Concerns about your personal software
  • Your software vendor


Ethical Conduct

The academic ethics code, as discussed in the Policy and Procedure Memorandum for Students, March 31, 2002, will be adhered to in this class.


Disability Support Services

If you are a student with a documented disability who requires an academic accommodation, please contact Betty H. Addison in the Office of Career Services and Disability Support: dss@jhsph.edu, 410-955-3034, or Room E-1140.


 

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