Objectives

In defining the training needs in Europe for health problems of disasters, the workshop will concentrate particularly on two types of disaster: the acute catastrophe which may occur within or outside Europe and the longer term disaster creating massive refugee health problems, often in the third world, but in which many European health workers become involved. In both these situations it is clear that many who are faced with solving the health problems are inadequately trained for the task.

The workshop will analyse past experience, define the likely scale and level of manpower needs for the future, and how they should be trained. The workshop will then outline the required short courses and course modules in terms of objectives, target groups and content. It will decide on European curriculum improvements that can be developed as a series of European intensive courses with a view to including them in European university and post-experience courses in this field.

This initial planning workshop comprises the first in what are conceived of as a series to upgrade teaching and thus the management of health in disasters. It will define the curricula of a set of possible courses, but in two cases it will not be working from a vacuum. In each of the areas of refugee health and in the management of acute disasters a course has already been held in Europe. Subsequent courses are planned, and it will be possible to add to those courses more specific course-workshops to translate the lessons of these specific courses into modules or curriculum units which can be incorporated into teaching in other countries (see Appendix II).

This co-operative effort should stimulate positive developments regarding health preparedness teaching methods; mobility of teachers, researchers and students; quality of training programmes; the process of innovation; communication between educational institutes and society; the pooling of international expertise; the process of technology transfer and transfer of know-how; student guidance; development aid; information for decision-makers and educational planners; improvement of the cost/efficiency ratio; the need for an awareness for disaster planning and rapid assessment techniques.