Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 2 from Coursera

This course, Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 2, addresses public health issues of people affected by disasters, both natural or conflict-related. It discusses the many changes that occur in people’s lives when they are uprooted by a disaster, including many important topics related to humanitarian crises, such as when there is an epidemic a public health emergency; what do we mean with the humanitarian development nexus; what are the basics of disaster epidemiology and surveillance; humanitarian principles; and other very relevant topics. We will explore what humanitarian interventions could look like if we want to mitigate the effects of disasters.

This course is a follow-up to Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 1, which dealt with changes in disease patterns, access to health care, livelihoods, shelter, sanitary conditions, nutritional status, and other issues.

The course content is a mix of theoretical knowledge and many practical examples from recent disasters. We think this course is unique because it contains so many practical ‘real-life’ examples and is taught be instructors and guest lecturers who together have over 200 years of experience in this field. The course consists of 10 modules totaling approximately 14-16 hours of delivered content with an additional 2-3 hours of self-work (quizzes and writing and evaluating a short peer-review assignment) as well as lively discussions forums. The first course, Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 1 (PHHC1), has been designed in a way that each module builds on the lessons of previous modules. However, the modules from this second course, Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 2 (PHHC2) can be accessed in any order and some can stand alone. You do not necessarily need to do PHHC1 before PHHC2, but it might be helpful to take some or all of PHHC1, as some of the basic or fundamental issues are covered in this course. PHHC2 contains a somewhat more diverse set of topics than the previous course as it deals with more complicated issues.

You do not have to pay for this course if you choose to enroll without a certificate. Sometimes referred to as auditing, enrolling without a certificate means that you will have access to all of the videos and discussions. The only difference is that you will not be able to take the quizzes to earn a certificate upon completion. Click the Audit or Enroll Without A Certificate link to sign up and begin the course. Visit the Learner Help Center for more details about your enrollment options.

What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1: Disease Outbreak Management (Kevin Clarke)

This module describes features and strategies to detect disease outbreaks and the key aspects of an effective outbreak response.

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what should give you pause

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This course focuses on public health emergencies caused by natural events and violent conflict

Approaches the topic of humanitarian public health by focusing on specific, critical areas like disease outbreak management

Includes key aspects of emergency response like the importance of ethics and principles during a humanitarian crisis

Provides learners with different perspectives as it's led by instructors and guest lecturers with over 200 years of humanitarian experience

Emphasizes real-world applications and practical examples within complex scenarios

Suitable for learners who have a strong foundation in basic disease patterns and healthcare access

Reviews summary

Practical public health for crisis response

According to learners, Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 2 is a highly relevant and comprehensive course that provides practical insights for professionals. Students consistently praise the unparalleled expertise of the instructors and guest lecturers, who enrich the content with real-life examples. The course covers a diverse range of critical topics, from disease outbreak management to mental health, and the flexible, standalone module structure is highly valued. While a few older reviews mentioned occasional technical or engagement issues, the overall consensus is that this course is an invaluable resource, though some note that prior foundational knowledge or experience can be beneficial for deeper understanding.

Beneficial to have foundational knowledge or experience.

"While modules can stand alone, I found it beneficial to have some prior knowledge, either from PHHC1 or my professional experience."

"I recommend having a basic understanding of humanitarian principles before diving into some of these deeper topics."

"Some parts felt a bit dense; I might have benefited from reviewing PHHC1 beforehand."

Modules can be accessed independently, offering flexibility.

"I appreciate the flexibility to take modules independently based on my specific needs and schedule."

"The self-paced nature allowed me to fit this valuable course into my busy professional schedule."

"It was great that specific modules could stand alone, allowing me to focus on areas most relevant to me."

Strong emphasis on practical applications and case studies.

"The final project was incredibly useful for applying the knowledge gained throughout the modules."

"I gained practical insights, with many modules offering direct applicability to my work."

"The emphasis on real-world application through examples was a definite highlight for me."

Covers a wide, critical range of public health topics.

"This course covers a diverse range of critical topics that are highly relevant to current crises."

"I was impressed by the breadth of topics covered, from SRH to mental health, essential for practitioners."

"I feel much more prepared to engage with public health challenges in humanitarian settings after this."

Benefits from instructors' unparalleled expertise.

"The real-life examples shared by instructors with vast experience made the complex topics digestible."

"I found the instructors' expertise unparalleled, especially their insights from the field."

"The depth of expertise from the instructors is truly remarkable; I learned so much."

Some older reviews noted minor issues with audio or engagement.

"I noticed some audio quality issues in a few of the videos, which was occasionally distracting."

"I wished there were more interactive assignments beyond just the peer review to deepen engagement."

"For me, some of the lectures could have been more engaging, even with the critical content."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 2 with these activities:

Review the basics of epidemiology

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Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events (including disease), and the application of this study to the control of diseases and other health problems.

Browse courses on Epidemiology

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Read a textbook chapter or online article on the basics of epidemiology.
Complete a practice quiz on epidemiology.

Attend a workshop on a humanitarian health topic

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Attending a workshop on a humanitarian health topic will help you to learn new skills and knowledge from experts in the field. It will also allow you to network with other people who are working in the field.

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Identify a workshop on a humanitarian health topic that you are interested in.
Register for the workshop.
Attend the workshop and participate in the activities.

Practice using public health surveillance tools

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Public health surveillance is a critical tool for identifying and responding to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. This activity will give you practice using a variety of surveillance tools and techniques.

Browse courses on Disaster Epidemiology

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Complete the online WHO training module on public health surveillance.
Use the WHO Epi Info software to enter and analyze data from a simulated disease outbreak.
Participate in an online discussion forum on the use of surveillance data in humanitarian crises.

Four other activities

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Participate in a peer review of a public health intervention

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Peer review is an essential part of the public health process. This activity will give you the opportunity to provide and receive feedback on a public health intervention, which will help you to improve your own work.

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Select a public health intervention to review.
Develop a set of criteria for evaluating the intervention.
Provide feedback to the authors of the intervention.

Develop a public health preparedness plan for a specific humanitarian crisis

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Developing a public health preparedness plan is an essential step in preparing for a humanitarian crisis. This activity will give you the opportunity to apply the principles of public health to a real-world scenario.

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Identify the potential health risks associated with the specific humanitarian crisis.
Develop strategies to mitigate the identified health risks.
Create a plan for implementing the strategies in the event of a crisis.
Share the plan with relevant stakeholders.

Participate in a global health innovation challenge

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Global health innovation challenges are a great way to apply your skills and knowledge to real-world problems. This activity will give you the opportunity to work with other students to develop new solutions to pressing public health challenges.

Browse courses on Global Health

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Identify a global health challenge that you are interested in.
Form a team of other students to work with.
Develop a solution to the challenge.
Submit your solution to the challenge.

Write a paper on a public health issue related to humanitarian crises

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Writing a paper on a public health issue related to humanitarian crises will help you to develop your research and writing skills. It will also allow you to share your knowledge and insights with a wider audience.

Browse courses on Public Health Policy

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Identify a public health issue related to humanitarian crises that you are interested in.
Research the issue and gather evidence to support your arguments.
Write a paper that presents your findings and recommendations.
Submit your paper to a journal or conference.

Career center

Learners who complete Public Health in Humanitarian Crises 2 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Public Health Nurse

Public health nurses provide a variety of health services to individuals, families, and communities. They work to prevent and control diseases, promote healthy behaviors, and improve the overall health of the population. This course would be helpful for public health nurses because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Nurse

Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists are responsible for studying the distribution and patterns of health events and diseases in populations. They use this information to develop and implement public health interventions to prevent and control diseases. This course would be helpful for epidemiologists because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Epidemiologist

Disaster Relief Specialist

Disaster relief specialists are responsible for coordinating and managing disaster relief efforts. They work with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders to provide assistance to disaster-affected populations. This course would be helpful for disaster relief specialists because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Disaster Relief Specialist

Public Health Researcher

Public health researchers conduct research to identify and address public health problems. They design and conduct studies, analyze data, and publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals. This course would be helpful for public health researchers because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Researcher

Health Policy Analyst

Health policy analysts are responsible for analyzing health policy issues and developing recommendations for policy changes. They work with policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders to improve the health of the population. This course would be helpful for health policy analysts because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

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Environmental Health Specialist

Environmental health specialists work to protect human health from environmental hazards. They identify and assess environmental hazards, develop and implement control measures, and educate the public about environmental health risks. This course would be helpful for environmental health specialists because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

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Occupational Health Specialist

Occupational health specialists work to protect workers from health hazards in the workplace. They identify and assess occupational hazards, develop and implement control measures, and educate workers about occupational health risks. This course would be helpful for occupational health specialists because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

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Field Epidemiologist

Field epidemiologists are responsible for investigating disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. They work with public health officials, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders to identify the source of the outbreak and to develop and implement control measures. This course would be helpful for field epidemiologists because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

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Maternal and Child Health Specialist

Maternal and child health specialists provide a variety of services to pregnant women, new mothers, and children. They work to improve the health of mothers and children and to reduce infant mortality. This course would be helpful for maternal and child health specialists because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

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Health Education Specialist

Health education specialists develop and implement health education programs. They work with individuals, groups, and communities to promote healthy behaviors and improve the overall health of the population. This course would be helpful for health education specialists because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

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Social Worker

Social workers provide a variety of services to individuals, families, and communities. They work to help people cope with personal, social, and economic challenges and to improve their overall well-being. This course would be helpful for social workers because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

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Medical Doctor

Medical doctors provide a variety of medical services to patients. They diagnose and treat diseases, perform surgeries, and prescribe medications. This course would be helpful for medical doctors because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

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Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners provide a variety of health care services to patients. They diagnose and treat diseases, prescribe medications, and provide counseling. This course would be helpful for nurse practitioners because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

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Project Manager

Project managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing out projects. They work with stakeholders to ensure that the project is completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course would be helpful for project managers because it provides an overview of the humanitarian principles and how to incorporate them into project planning and implementation.

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Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare administrators are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of healthcare organizations. They work to ensure that the organization is providing high-quality care to patients and that it is operating efficiently. This course would be helpful for healthcare administrators because it provides an overview of the public health issues that can arise in humanitarian crises and the strategies that can be used to address them.

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