WHO International Diploma Course in Vulnerability Reduction and Emergency Preparedness

Objectives To develop and evaluate a course specifically designed for senior managers from health and health-related sectors with responsibilities in the area of emergency preparedness and management. In particular, demonstrating ways to implement risk management policies at community level and train health managers in policy, planning and organizational aspects of risk management through standardizing knowledge of key technical areas in health and health-related disciplines. Methodology A residential part of the course was designed including five modules: planning, disaster medicine, epidemiology, hazardous material and bio-terrorism, public health and urban search and rescue. The participants had to deliver individual presentations of selected topics based on personal experience and expertise. After successful completion of a written examination, the participants were awarded with a certificate for this part of the course from an accredited university institution in disaster medicine. The participants w...