WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:04.000 (English captions by Trisha Paul, University of Michigan.) 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:11.000 Before intervening in a disaster, you need to conduct a Rapid Needs Assessment. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:17.000 In this session, we shall look through the principles of conducting a Rapid Needs Assessment 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:21.000 in a disaster situation. 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:28.000 Let us start by an activity. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:39.000 Look at 5 disaster situations: floods, war and conflicts, disease outbreak situation, 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:44.000 drought and famine situation, and an institutional fire situation. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:53.000 Spend a few minutes and write down the kind of information you would need in these disasters. 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:57.000 You may select one of these. 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:09.000 Objectives of a Rapid Needs Assessment include answering the following questions. 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:13.000 Has a disaster occurred? 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:16.000 How many are affected? 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:19.000 What are the immediate needs? 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:22.000 Are local resources available? 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:25.000 What external resources are needed? 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:30.000 What are the estimated costs of intervention? 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:35.000 And how do you develop an action plan using this information? 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:45.000 Key activities in Rapid Assessment include planning the Rapid Assessment visit, planning 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:52.000 initial tasks of the team, field data collection, analysis of data, identification of high risk 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:59.000 groups, dissemination of information, and using this information for action. 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:08.000 In planning the visit, compose the assessment team and select a team leader. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:11.000 Collect background information on the incident. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:17.000 Determine gaps in information that need to be addressed. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:21.000 Two, initial tasks of the team. 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:27.000 There is need to prepare an assessment checklist. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:29.000 Assess existing information. 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:34.000 Conduct, prepare a timetable for assessment. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:39.000 Assign tasks and set up communication measures. 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:42.000 Inform and include local authorities. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:50.000 Obtain equipment for the assessment including computers, radios, etc. 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:57.000 Organize transport, vehicles, fuel, visas if necessary. 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:03.000 Inform potential donors and key decision-makers and possibly inform the local leaders in the 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:08.000 community where you are going to conduct the assessment. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:15.000 Three, field visit and data collection. 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:22.000 Information needs in the emergency phase include affected population and demographics, vital 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:32.000 information and health data, food and nutritional status, environment, water and sanitation, 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:43.000 shelter & non-food items, resource needs, and coordination. 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:48.000 Methods in the field visit and data collection include visual inspection of the affected 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:55.000 area, interviews with community leaders, health workers, emergency personnel, individuals 00:03:55.000 --> 00:04:04.000 from affected population, review of existing information, conducting rapid surveys to fill 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:13.000 gaps in available information. 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:19.000 From the affected population, we need to describe the size and demographics, especially vulnerable 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:27.000 groups like women, children, disabled, and elderly, patterns of movement, socio-cultural 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:37.000 factors, ethnicity and related issues. 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:43.000 Vital health information includes deaths and their main causes, both related to the disaster 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:50.000 and other core morbidities existing, diseases of epidemic potential, diseases of public 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:58.000 health importance like STDs, HIV/AIDS, and maternal health conditions, and the sources 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:05.000 of this information could be hospitals and health centers, local leaders, response personnel, 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:16.000 and individuals that are directly or indirectly affected. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:19.000 Assess the health care infrastructure. 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:31.000 This includes health personnel, drugs & vaccine supply, and background health information. 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:40.000 Assess the status of nutrition and food, including acute malnutrition especially among children 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:47.000 6 months-5 years, micronutrient deficiencies, and vulnerable groups, especially pregnant women, 00:05:47.000 --> 00:06:03.000 the elderly, the disabled, and the children. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:04.000 Assess the environment. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:08.000 Look at water supply, shelter, and sanitation. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:19.000 Assess the resource needs, including human resources, food items, and non food items. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:27.000 Challenges in Rapid Assessment include multiple assessments, team balance to take care of 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:38.000 local issues, gender, culture, and minorities, single versus multiple focus assessments, 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:48.000 local systems and assessments, and targeting, what do you really need to know? 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:56.000 Key principles of Rapid Assessment include the assessment being aimed at determining 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:04.000 the intervention needed, the fact that it must be completed quickly, the fact that it 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:11.000 must identify priority areas for intervention, the fact that it provides baseline data for 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:15.000 continuous monitoring and surveillance.