European Commission > Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection

Emergency health assistance

The vast majority of interventions funded by the EC under its humanitarian mandate affect health directly or indirectly. Between 1995 and 2006, more than a quarter of all EC financial commitments to humanitarian operations were allocated to health.

An independent evaluation of these health interventions was conducted in 2007 (see below). The evaluation recommended contributing to and advising on international health policies more explicitly. For this reason, ECHO has established guidelines on HIV/AIDS interventions and user fees, to name but two. These policies will be of relevance to implementing partners, field experts and other donors and stakeholders. At the same time, ECHO recommends that stakeholders refer to the best practices and policies available and to respect international medical standards and guidelines wherever applicable and relevant. For this purpose, listed below are some international references and web-links in the area of HIV/AIDS, malaria, cholera, psychosocial support, nutrition and reproductive health.

Documents

1.2. Resources from international organisations

• The Sphere Project - Standards Sphere - Handbook – 2011
• HPN/ODI – Public health in crisis affected populations: A practical guide for decision-makers, 2007 -
• A_short_guide_on_public_health_for_decision_makers_20110211.pdf -
• IASC HEALTH CLUSTER GUIDE – Health Cluster Guide, 2009
• PAHO - Management of dead bodies after disaster, 2009
• Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations - Surge Hospitals: providing safe care in emergencies -
• WHO - Early warning, surveillance and response in emergencies, 2009 -
• WHO - Risk reduction and emergency preparedness, 2007 -
• Global Health Cluster, Health Action in Crisis, WHO – HeRAMS Health Resources Availability Mapping, 2009 -
• Health Action in Crisis, WHO - Analysing Disrupted Health Sectors, WHO HAC, 2009 -
• PAHO/WHO - Field Manual Evaluation Forms PAHO/WHO Regional Disaster Response Team, 2010
• IASC Global Health Cluster – Removing User Fees for  Primary Health Care Services During Humanitarian Crises,2010

1.3. Resources from research institutes and non-governmental organisations

• MSF – Clinical Guidelines: Diagnostic and Treatment Manual, 2010 -
• MSF – Rapid health assessment of refugee or displaced populations, 2006 -
• MSF – Refugee Health: An approach to emergency situations, 1997 -
• Malteser International - Indicators and Reference Data: A Practical Tool for Project Managers in Humanitarian Aid, 2009 -

2. Endemic and Epidemic Diseases in Crisis Affected Populations

2.1. General

• WHO - Communicable disease control in emergencies - A field manual - 2005
• WHO – Flooding and communicable diseases: Risk assessment and preventive measures, 2005 -
• WHO – Communicable diseases in Complex Emergencies: Impact and Challenges, 2004 -
• LSHT – The use of epidemiological tools in conflict-affected populations: open-access educational resources for policy-makers, 2009

2.2 Specific Diseases

2.2.1 Chagas Disease

• MSF – Fact sheet on chagas disease, 2005 -

2.2.2 Cholera

• WHO - Cholera  outbreak : Assessing the outbreak preparedness,  2004
• WHO - First steps for managing an outbreak of acute diarrhoea, 2004 -
• WHO - recommendations on the management of diarrhoea and pneumonia in HIV-infected infants and children, 2010
• WHO – Cholera Vaccine, 2010 -

2.2.3 Dengue, Dengue Haemorrhagic fever, and other haemorrhagic fevers

• WHO, TDR - DENGUE GUIDELINES FOR DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, PREVENTION AND CONTROL A joint publication of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), 2009 -
• WHO – Resources for prevention and control and outbreak response Dengue, Dengue haemorrhagic fever, various resources -
• WHO – Infection control for viral haemorrhagic fevers in the African health  care setting, 1998 -
• WHO – Interim Infection Control Recommendation for Care of Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Filovirus (Ebola, Marburg) Haemorrhagic Fever, 2008 -

2.2.4 HIV

See below (point 4)

2.2.5 Malaria

• WHO - Malaria Control in Complex Emergencies, 2005 -
• WHO  - Guidelines for the treatment of Malaria, Second Edition, 2010 -
• WHO - Good procurement practices for Artesemin-based antimalaria medicines, 2010 -
• WHO – Global report on antimalaria efficacy and drug resistance 2000 - 2010, 2010 -

2.2.6 Measles

• WHO - Guidelines for Epidemic Preparedness and Response to Measles Outbreaks, 1999 -
• MSF (published in Nature) – The dynamics of measles in sub-Saharan Africa, 2008 -

2.2.7 Meningococcal Disease

• WHO Practical guidelines - Control of epidemic meningococcal disease, 1998 -
• MSF – Management of Epidemic Meningococcal Meningitis, 2008 -

2.2.8 Pertussis

• WHO – Managing pertussis outbreak, 2008 -

2.2.9 Tetanus

• WHO - Current recommendations for treatment of tetanus during humanitarian emergencies, 2010 -

4. HIV/AIDS in Crisis Affected Populations

4.1. European Commission documents

• DG ECHO HIV guidelines – 2008 -

4.2. Resources from international organisations

• IASC - Guidelines for addressing HIV/AIDS in Humanitarian Settings – 2010
• UNHCR - Antiretroviral Medication Policy for Refugees – 2007
• UNHCR/WHO/UNAIDS – Policy Statement on HIV Testing and Counselling  in Health Facilities for Refugees, Internally Displaced persons and other Persons  of Concern to UNHCR, 2009 -
• UNHCR - Guidance on infant feeding and HIV in the context of refugees and displaced populations, 2009
• FANTA - Food Assistance Programming in the Context of HIV – 2007 -
• Code of Good Practice for NGOs responding to HIV/AIDS – 2004 -
• World Bank - HIV/AIDS, nutrition, and food security: what we can do: A Synthesis of international guidance – 2007 -
• UNAIDS - The development of programme strategies for integration of HIV, food and nutrition activities in refugee settings – 2006 -
• UNHCR / WFP - Integration of HIV/AIDS activities with food and nutrition support in refugee settings: specific programme strategies – 2004 -

4.3. Resources from research institutes and non-governmental organisations

• MSF (published in PLOS) – Cytomegalovirus Retinitis: The Neglected Disease of the Aids Pandemic, 2007

5. Nutrition

6. Mental Health in Emergencies

6.1. Resources from international organisations

• IASC - Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings – 2007
• IASC Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Humanitarian Emergencies: What Should Humanitarian Health Actors Know? – 2010

7. Reproductive Health in Emergencies including Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

7.1 Resources from international organisations

• Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health  - Inter-Agency Field Manual on Reproductive Health in Humanitarian Settings, 2010 (Revision for Field-Testing)
• Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health - Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Reproductive Health in Crisis Situations - Distance Learning Module, 2006 -
• Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health – Reproductive Health Kits for Crisis Situations, 2008 -
• Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health - Guidelines on Gender Based Violence in Humanitarian Settings – 2008
• Gender-based Violence Area of Responsibility Working Group – Handbook for Coordinating Gende-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings, 2010 -
• WHO - Clinical Management for Rape Survivors, 2005 -
• UNHCR - Sexual and Gender-Based Violence against refugees, returnees and IDPs: Guidelines for prevention and response – 2003
• UNICEF - Facts for Life, 4th  edition, UNICEF, 2010

7.2. Resources from research institutes and non-governmental organisations

• RAISE - Fact sheets of reproductive health in emergencies, regularly updated

8. Other

8.1. European Commission documents

Independent review of quality assurance mechanisms and medical supplies in humanitarian aid - 2006

• Concept Paper on drugs quality -
• Guidelines on drugs quality -