{"id":116164,"date":"2020-07-02T10:01:38","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T13:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fraterinternacional.org\/?p=116164"},"modified":"2020-07-02T10:01:38","modified_gmt":"2020-07-02T13:01:38","slug":"sphere-handbook-health-prevention-is-better-than-healing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fraterinternacional.org\/en\/sphere-handbook-health-prevention-is-better-than-healing\/","title":{"rendered":"Sphere Handbook – Health Prevention is Better than Healing"},"content":{"rendered":"

People subject to situations of vulnerability with hygiene and food in the shelters will probably also go through a health crisis. The premise that guides the Health module of the\u00a0Sphere Handbook<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is based on the daily lives of helpers and organizations working in humanitarian crises, involving refugees or populations affected by natural disasters.<\/p>\n

Since the beginning of the work of the\u00a0Fraternity \u2013 International Humanitarian Federation (FIHF)<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0in Roraima in November of 2016, its missionaries have realized that health is the main axis of daily life in the shelters. Physical and emotional weaknesses \u2013 as a result of forced displacement, sometimes violently, and living in a foreign country, with a different language and customs \u2013 can generate a state of tension and stress that can lead to diseases of the mind and body. The Missionary Clara, who works in the Venezuelan refugee crisis, explains:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe poor nutritional state \u00a0they arrive here in is most of the time advanced, both in children and in adults,\u201d she says. \u201cMany times, the journey is done on foot, over long distances, facilitating the emergence of opportunistic diseases. Many arrive with basic illnesses, which could be perfectly treatable, but due to lack of assistance in the country of origin, they are already in a chronic or acute state. Some could receive an easier treatment, with moderate medication, but end up being admitted to hospitals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Manual<\/a><\/p>\n

The health program of the\u00a0Sphere Handbook<\/a> <\/strong>is divided into two main topics: the Health Systems (covering from the reinforcing of the provision of public health services, human resources, supplies and medicines, to financing and information collection for guiding the assistance) and the Essential Healthcare (including communicable diseases, child health, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, traumas, up to palliative care). *See details in the chart.<\/p>\n

In the case of Essential Healthcare, the immediate objective is to reduce excess mortality and morbidity, either in the causes of direct impact, such as injuries and traumas that lead to death, in the case of earthquakes, for example; or indirect impact, caused by changes in the living conditions, lack of protection and medical care, such as outbreaks of diseases like measles.<\/p>\n

Regarding the responsibility of the organizations involved in the humanitarian response, the Sphere points out the support and development of health systems, with actions such as hiring specialized personnel and the planning of interventions in order to enhance the existing health systems. In so-called urban crises, where the affected populations are given shelter in the city, the assistants must provide victims with the knowledge of how the healthcare system works, know where to look for medicines, in addition to identifying people at risk and supporting existing services.<\/p>\n

The experience of the missionaries of the\u00a0Fraternity (FIHF<\/strong>)<\/a>\u00a0teaches that health conditions are a daily challenge, because the shelter is a living organism. People come and go every week, every month. \u201cEach immigrant who arrives is a situation to be solved, both in their physical and their mental health. How do the missionaries contribute in this sector? Today, the\u00a0Fraternity (FIHF)<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0has nurses, nursing technicians, with the aim of organizing the health of the shelter so that newcomers know where to get help,\u201d says Clara.<\/p>\n\n\t\t