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Results for “Relief Work”

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At least 667 records · Page 37Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Evaluation of health, nutrition and food security programmes in a complex emergency: the case of Congo as an example of a chronic post-conflict situation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the case of Congo as an example of the assessment and appropriateness of donor operational and sectoral strategies in a complex emergency. DESIGN AND SETTING: The paper reports the findings of an external evaluation of operations financed by the European Commission Humanitarian Office in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). RESULTS: The Congolese health system is suffering from severe deterioration. What is functioning in the public health context is donor-dependent with high costs and limited coverage. Despite a relatively favourable agro-climatic situation, food shortage and famine severely affect the nutritional status of large population groups. In this context, humanitarian programmes have generally improved access to health care and the nutritional status of beneficiaries. The reduction of malnutrition in project areas is often demonstrated even though the context did not permit consolidation of these results. Malnutrition continues to claim a massive cost of lives owing to the effect of widespread food insecurity that follows a circular cause-and-effect pattern of very low food production and extreme poverty. CONCLUSIONS: The current context in DRC does not correspond yet to 'post-crisis': neither at population level with regard to indicators of poverty, malnutrition, disease and death, nor at institutional level, with regard to state support to institutions. In these situations, the international community is often called upon to replace the state as service provider. Integrated humanitarian actions should be the future of relief projects in DRC. Health, nutrition and food security components should be considered a standard public health intervention strategy representing the most sensible approach to address the needs of the affected population.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1995

An evaluation of respiratory protective devices used in children's evacuation.

This study evaluated respiratory protective devices (RPDs) used in children's evacuation. The RPDs evaluated were either a protective jacket or a protective mask. One hundred and sixty children participated. Half were evacuated from home with the help of their parents, whereas the other half were evacuated from day-care centres with the help of staff. In all, 65% of the children were evacuated wearing their RPDs. No significant differences were found between the two environments, but significantly more children (75%) kept the mask on than the jacket (55%). However, many more cases of improper fit after dressing were observed with the mask than with the jacket. Speech communication was observed to be reduced for 58% of the children, wearing the mask, and slightly more for those wearing the jacket. Children who did not evacuate with the RPDs on were observed to be more anxious and adults' attitudes towards them were rated as more neutral, whereas children who successfully evacuated were less anxious and adults' attitudes towards them were rated both as more positive and as more negative.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Civilians and war: a review and historical overview of the involvement of non-combatant populations in conflict situations.

The effects of light weapons are now regularly seen on television and are becoming an international issue, particularly regarding their impact on civilians. It is claimed that 80% or more of deaths and injuries in today's wars are civilian; there is no objective evidence for this as little accurate information is available. Recent surveys suggest, however, a proportion of between 35 and 65%--still far too high considering the protection to which civilians are entitled under international humanitarian law. It is proposed the problem arises from twentieth-century killing power in the hands of individuals with fifteenth-century discipline and organization. Recent systematic surveys distinguish between civilian deaths from light weapons in combat and non-combat situations. A high proportion of combat deaths is due to fragmenting weapons such as mortars targeted on populated areas. Many weapon-related deaths in non-combat situations are accidental (cleaning weapons, handling by children during play) and others are related to domestic disputes. The availability and use of weapons also affects civilians indirectly in many ways, such as ill-health in refugees, psychosocial effects on women and children, and economic and environmental consequences. A variety of schemes exist to reduce the availability of light weapons and reintegrate their users into society. The international community must extend and make better use of these measures.

Global Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The changing role of civilian surgeons in conflicts: a meta-analysis of epidemiological data.

Surgical activities in recent conflicts were reviewed based on the published epidemiological data. Ten articles on seven conflicts were identified and reviewed. The surgical activities in these articles were classified into three categories based on their activities: type 1, civilian border camp surgical activities; type 2, military hospitals in military deployment; type 3, civilian hospitals in former Yugoslavia or Palestine camp (most recent conflicts). Comparison of injuries in ratios of head-to-extremities, and critical part-to-extremities, among these three different types of surgical activity showed that type 3 hospitals had a statistically higher number of critical part injuries compared to the other two types of hospital. Type 3 hospitals represent the most recent endemic, regional and indiscriminate killing experiences. The high rates of critical part trauma in studies of recent conflicts show the increasing importance of trauma management skills by civilian surgeons in recent conflicts. Exchange of information among civilian surgeons serving in these difficult and dangerous conditions should be encouraged.

Asia, Southeastern↗
PubMed2005

Preparing and responding to mass casualties in the developing world.

Disasters, albeit on a small scale, are an everyday event in Africa. They contribute to depriving millions of Africans of access to basic services, often considered rights in more affluent societies. The massive amounts of aid donated during disasters, could be limited by strengthening systems of disaster preparedness beforehand. Current, disease-specific programs can not achieve this goal. The Essential Trauma Care Program of the WHO, and the International Association of Trauma Surgery and Intensive Care provides a template on which to build affordable systems of disaster preparedness.

Africa↗
PubMed2005

Wind, rain, flooding, and fear: coordinating military public health in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

On 29 August 2005, a category 4 hurricane struck the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and southeast Louisiana, resulting in widespread destruction caused by winds in excess of 190 km/h (120 miles/h), heavy rain, and flooding. Communication, electricity, and fresh water supplies were disrupted throughout the region, rendering much of the area uninhabitable. Despite tremendous obstacles, the US military spearheaded the eventually successful rescue, recovery, and relief operations. This article describes the challenges of protecting the health and safety of these personnel in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Disasters↗
PubMed2006

An approach to prevention of infectious diseases during military deployments.

The US military conducts missions that range from major ground combat operations to disaster and humanitarian relief efforts. A primary goal of military medical professionals is disease prevention, which can be made more difficult in the context of short preparation times and prolonged deployment duration. The military uses a 6-component approach to deployment medicine, emphasizing preparation, education, personal protective measures, vaccines, chemoprophylaxis, and surveillance in an attempt to prevent infectious diseases. Many of the components of military deployment medicine are applicable to civilian disaster relief and humanitarian missions.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗
PubMed1994

Threat of hepatitis E virus infection in Somalia during Operation Restore Hope.

In support of Operation Restore Hope, the United States military established a diagnostic laboratory for infectious diseases, the Joint Forward Laboratory, in Mogadishu, Somalia. Because sporadic hepatitis due to unknown causes was a frequent problem, staff members of the Joint Forward Laboratory evaluated 31 Somalis, five displaced Ethiopians, and three Western relief workers who had acute clinical hepatitis. Patients lived in multiple locations in Somalia--Mogadishu, Baidoa, and Merca--and became ill between December 1992 and February 1993. IgM antibody to hepatitis A virus was found in one English relief worker, and IgM antibody to hepatitis E virus was found in 20 (65%) of 31 Somalis, two (40%) of five Ethiopians, and two (67%) of three Western relief workers. No patient had evidence of acute hepatitis B, malaria, yellow fever, or other arbovirus infections. These data indicate that hepatitis E virus--the major cause of enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis--was a common cause of acute sporadic hepatitis in Somalia during the initial stages of Operation Restore Hope.

Disease Outbreaks↗