International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
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Chapter 2
Assessing and targeting public health priorities

 

 

 

While international partnerships are vital to tackle the world’s ever greater public health needs, the tools to deliver preventive and curative care only work in trained hands. Improving public health means investing in local people as well as in technology.

Photo: Jenny Matthews/
International Federation, Sudan 1999.
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As disasters and conflict soak up the precious resources of poorer states, little is left to support long-term public health provision. As humanitarian response tries to bridge between emergency relief and rehabilitation, it is encountering unlimited needs with limited resources.
This chapter reflects the way aid organizations need to change their operations to respond to the changing landscape of emergency needs. Greater cooperation, less competition and more investment in local preparedness is needed.
And more high tech tools are being used to establish priorities, and improve the quality and efficiency of humanitarian response.

 

Box 2.1 Volunteers vital for meningitis vaccination in SUDAN

Box 2.3 Dengue fever contained by cooperation in Cambodia