the aid library

Social Mobilization and Community Engagement Central to the Ebola Response in West Africa: Lessons for Future Public Health Emergencies
recommended

Amaya M Gillespie, Rafael Obregon, Rania El Asawi, et al. (2016) CC

doi: 10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00226; Glob Health Sci Pract December 23, 2016 vol. 4 no. 4 p. 626-646

A decision framework for effective, equitable and context-specific public health and social measures during public health emergencies: Decision navigator

World Health Organization WHO (2025) C_WHO

PHSM are vital in reducing the risk and scale of infectious disease transmission and lowering hospitalization and deaths. Examples include contact tracing, quarantine and isolation, mask use, ventilation, school or workplace measures, mobility restrictions and travel requirements. While these mea ... more

Psychosocial Support and Social and Emotional Learning for Children and Youth in Emergency Settings
recommended

Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (2016) C2

The purpose of this paper is to clarify relevant terminologies and approaches relating to psychosocial well-being and social and emotional learning (SEL) in education in crisis affected contexts, and to explore how psychosocial support (PSS) and ... more

Mental Health In Emergencies

World Health Organization WHO (2003) C_WHO

Mental and Social Aspects of Health of Populations Exposed to Extreme Stressors

Considerations relating to social distancing measures in response to the COVID-19 epidemic- second update

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC (2020) C1

Social distancing is an action taken to minimise contact with other individuals; social distancing measures comprise one category of non-pharmaceutical countermeasures (NPCs)1 aimed at reducing dise ... more

Communication Risk in Public Health Emergencies
recommended

World Health Organization (WHO) (2018) C_WHO

A WHO Guideline for Emergency Risk Communication (ERC) policy and practice. Recent public health emergencies, such as the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa (2014–2015), the emergence of the Zika virus syndrome in 2015–2016 and multi- ... more

Integrating palliative care and symptom relief into responses to humanitarian emergencies and crises: a WHO guide

World Health Organization WHO (2018) C_WHO

Humanitarian emergencies and crises (Humanitarian emergencies and crises) are large-scale events that may result in the breakdown of health care systems and society, forced displacement, death, and ... more

Child protection in emergencies: Operational guidelines for child protection practitioners in Kenya 2023

Government of Kenya (2023) CC

These guidelines provide a clear framework for child-centred emergency preparedness, response and recovery. They are intended for use by state and non-state actors directly involved in interventions, as well as other stakeholders whose work may contribute to the overall safety and well-being of chil ... more

Guide to the Evaluation of Psychosocial Programming in Emergencies
recommended

UN Children's Fund UNICEF (2009)

This guide focuses on the evaluation of psychosocial programs that are aligned with two main goals: - To promote psychosocial wellbeing by promoting an environment that provides appropriate care, opportunities for development and protects children from exposure to situations that are harmful to thei ... more

In Control: A Practical Handbook for Professionals Working in Health Emergencies Internationally RKI

Robert Koch Institut RKI (2023) CC

The greatest risk to persons engaging in international medical emergency response is poor preparation. The In Control handbook hopes to provide a remedy. At the time of writing, we are living through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a health emergency that disregards physical borders, brin ... gs into focus social inequalities and affects people on every continent. This shared challenge requires unprecedented measures and the collaboration of the brightest minds to support global health protection through this crisis and beyond. Healthcare infrastructures have to be strengthened, public health capacities and processes upgraded, medical countermeasures and vaccinations found and psychosocial side-effects treated. Solidarity is the normative order of the day and the human species has to collaborate to face this invisible threat. Hiding and living in fear is not an option in this interconnected world. We have both a responsibility and an opportunity to make substantial contributions to a safer, healthier and more sustainable future for us all. The existence of this handbook is an impressive example of solidarity. Over 50 authors from more than 15 institutes and organisations have come together voluntarily within a very short time to make their expertise available and enable cross-sectoral thinking. Knowledge is bundled, resources are combined, information gaps are filled. The In Control handbook is not a theoretical treatise of possible dangers, but a collection of subject-matter expertise, written by experts and practitioners who have shaped health topics over the past 20 years in the most diverse corners of the world. The Centre for International Health Protection at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) is collaborating with its partners and investing heavily in the build-up of operational know-how and capacity to support health crisis response abroad. This is done by preparing and enabling professionals to deploy safely across the world to assist those in need. In Control addresses the multi-faceted challenges of an international deployment. Readers will find not only technical medical information, but also insights into, for example, the fragility of our environment, the cultural differences that influence risk communication or the dilemmas arising from social distancing. Legal principles are highlighted, along with ethical guidance to ensure that our actions and decisions correspond to the highest moral standards. more

Community interventions for pandemic preparedness: A scoping review of pandemic preparedness lessons from HIV, COVID-19, and other public health emergencies of international concern

Hafez S.; A Ismail S.; Zibobwa Z. et al. PLOS Glob Public Health 4(5): e0002758. (2024) C2

There is widespread recognition of the growing threat of infectious disease epidemics and pandemics spreading across countries or continents—especially following the recent Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics. Vulnerable groups (including children, older adults, ethnic minorities and other at-risk group ... more

Working with Children in Unstable Situations: Principles and Concepts to Guide Psychosocial Responses

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) (2003)

This document is designed to provide UNICEF staff and UNICEF partner staff with principles and concepts that can assist them to respond to the psychosocial needs of children in natural disasters and social ... more

Risk communications
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO

For public health emergencies, risk communication includes the range of communication capacities required through the preparedness, response and recovery phases of a serious public health event to encourage informed decision making, positive behavio ... more

Nigeria Humanitarian Response Plan 2020 (March 2020)

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) (2020) C1

In addition to the ongoing humanitarian emergencies in the country, the COVID-19 pandemic poses a potential monumental social and economic threat to Nigeria, with a devastating knock on effect for t ... more

Developing respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness plans

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) (2024) C_WHO

Planning for public health emergencies should ensure that capabilities developed during previous emergencies are maintained, incorporated, and put into practice when a new event of public health con ... more

IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings. Checklist
recommended

Inter-Agency Standing Committee IASC (2008) C1

Armed conflicts and natural disasters cause significant psychological and social suffering to affected populations. The psychological and social impacts of ... more

El Salvador's Health Emergency Appeal 2023

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2023) C_WHO

The recurrence of severe climate events combined with economic, social, and institutional fragilities leave El Salvador in an utterly critical humanitarian situation and highly vulnerable. Located in a disaster-prone subregion, El Salvador is among ... more

Mexico: a primary health care case study in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2024) C_WHO

The Mexican Constitution sets out the basis for access to health care services and the right to social protection in health for all citizens. The General Health Law establishes that the MoH, together with state governments, is responsibl for the con ... more

National Guideline For Emergency Nutrition Intervention (May 2022)

Government of Ethiopia (2022) CC

Humanitarian crises exacerbate nutritional risks and often lead to an increase in acute malnutrition. Emergencies include both manmade (conflict) and natural disasters (floods, drought, cyclones, typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc.). Com ... more