Health Emergencies in Large Populations - The H.E.L.P. Course

The Health Emergencies in Large Populations (H.E.L.P.) course is a two weeks on-site course that was created in 1986 by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Geneva (Switzerland). It aims to enhance professionalism of humanitarian interventions during acute and protracted crisis situations of armed conflict, natural disasters and major disease outbreaks.

Since the beginning, three strategic orientations were established. The first, to decentralize the course and offer it in areas close to major humanitarian operations. The second, to adopt a systematic policy of seeking partnerships with schools of public health and other institutions in countries where the course is offered so that eventually these will be able to take over the organization of the H.E.L.P. course and integrate it in their curricula. The third strategy was to open the course to people with solid experience in humanitarian operations but no professional training in the health field, which made it possible to broaden the discourse on humanitarian interventions and give these participants the knowledge they need for a better understanding of health operations, thereby fostering a stronger interdisciplinary approach in the field.

The first H.E.L.P course took place in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1986 and since then has been organized in Geneva annually. Since 1990, the course has also been organized in other countries and over the years, over 200 courses have taken place in 25 countries. Since 1986, more than 4,500 participants from 130+ different nationalities have attended the course globally. There are currently 10 courses active in nine countries.

The H.E.L.P. course aims to enhance professionalism in the response to health emergencies as a result of armed conflict, natural disasters and disease outbreaks. The course focuses on decision making in acute and protracted crises, with strong emphasis on placing affected people and context at the centre. The H.E.L.P. course adopts a public health approach, fosters a multidisciplinary response, and brings out challenges, dilemmas, standards, norms and principles. The H.E.L.P. course brings together a wide range of participants and facilitators to mutually benefit from each other's knowledge and experience.

The course is intended for individuals with 1-3 years' work experience in humanitarian crises, which may include situations due to natural disasters, industrial accidents, armed conflict and major disease outbreaks. Prospective participants have taken, or will take, an active role in managing interventions /operations. Professional backgrounds may vary from a health background (e.g. doctors, nurses, public health officers, nutritionists to water and sanitation engineers) to disciplines with a focus on strategic management/responsibilities in humanitarian crisis situations. The course aims to bring together a rich mix of professional expertise and experience, a variety of countries/regions, and a range of national and international institutions/organizations, such as: The Ministry of Health and other governmental institutions, the Red Cross /Red Crescent Movement, UN agencies, national /international NGOs, military and individuals undertaking continued education.