public health engineering in humanitarian contexts Flashcards
define public health engineering
the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organised effort of society
when are humanitarian contexts created and provide examples
when an event or series of events represents a critical threat to the health, safety, security or well-being of a community usually over a wide area.
famine, conflict, epidemic, natural disasters
what are the five steps to manage public health engineering activities?
- assessment and analysis: can be acute emergency or chronic emergency
- strategy planning: define global objective, human and logistic needs
- implementation: involves the clear delegation of responsibilities
- monitoring: regular observation and recording of activities
- evaluation: done, during or after the project. Consider the impact and results. Strengths and weaknesses
what players are involved in the multidisciplinary establishing emergency refugee or displaced person camps?
construction engineers, healthcare professionals, people with management backgrounds
what are factors to consider when planning refugee or displaced person camps?
- context
- cultural habits
- land availability
- access
- climate
- water
- terrain
- environmental health risks
- Human Resources
how should water be stored in refugee or displaced person camps?
- distribute containers which have a small opening to prevent contamination
- requires regular cleaning and disinfection
why is planning and organisation of runoff and waste-water important?
- avoid stagnant water which can become vector breeding sites
- reduces health risks from pollution
what is safe excreta environment and why is climate important factor
Safe disposal of excreta (faeces and urine) creates a barrier against the spread of diarrhoeal disease.
Climate is important because space, separation wind direction can facilitate odour and transmission of disease
where should latrine be placed in humanitarian settings
close to each dwelling so each family can padlock their latrine. One latrine for 3-4 dwellings
what is the importance of providing shelter for individuals during humanitarian crisis
- Protection from weather
- Promotes health
- Supports family
- Provides dignity
- Ensures security and livelihoods
examples of intervention types in shelter provision
- Household items
- Construction materials
- Tools
- Emergency shelter
- Transitional shelter/ T-shelter
- Support for host families
- Rental support
- Core housing/ progressive housing 9. Housing Repairs and retrofitting
- Cash/ vouchers 11. Loans
- Advocacy/ legal 13. Site planning 14. Infrastructure 15. Training
- Structural assessment
- Guidelines/ materials/mass communications
what three factors are important when discussing water supply
- planning and organisation
- accessibility: cost and distance, transport and storage
- technical processes: water treatment, collection and household storage, water transport
name methods to disinfect water
a. home methods
b. commercial methods
a. boiling, fabric and fibre filtration, solar water disinfection
b. coagulation using alum, addition of chlorine, water filter drugs
what are the two methods of solid waste management
household level management: focus on education and enlightenment
collective management: focus on right location for facilities, 10m away form living facilities.
Why is medical waste management important
what are the 8 categories of medical waste management that need specific disposal methods.
medical waste management is important because lack of proper disposal can lead to infections
1 Radioactive 2 Pharmacological 3 Chemical 4 Gas 5 Toxic 6 Sharps 7 Organs 8 Infectious
