Understand the needs in the health cluster
There are a number of different disasters / emergencies in which the health of a population may be affected, including:
War / conflict / violence
Natural disasters
Disease outbreaks
Or a combination of the above
In the first instance the primary focus of a response may be on the immediate risk to life, as the response develops it is important to understand:
The determinants of health - the population’s vulnerability before the incident
The health system - the national healthcare delivery system and any disruption it is facing
Profiles of morbidity / mortality - any endemic and emerging disease (existing and recently appearing disease) that can be both communicable and non-communicable disease (infectious and non-infectious)
Emergency Medical Teams - any surge capacity being provide to the healthcare system
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