Johns Hopkins Department of International Health

Today Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health launched the third annual Joint Training on Public Health Skills in Complex Emergencies for the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, hosted in by the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar. The training curriculum was developed by the Center for Humanitarian Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, with some speakers coming from the World Health Organization. The training began in May 2024 with a series of required and optional recorded lectures by Center faculty. After completion of these, participants are spending 26 June – 2 July 2024 in Doha taking part in simulations and case studies which focus on meeting the health needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises.

Public health teams in Health Organization (Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office) (EMR) and other regions worldwide face increasingly complex health threats. These range from infectious disease outbreaks to illness and injuries from natural disasters and conflicts. These increasing challenges need an expanded regional health workforce capable of working in a skilled and coordinated manner.

This intensive training program equips emergency responders and leaders with the public health knowledge, skills, and leadership capabilities needed to manage complex emergencies. Through a mix of theory, practical simulations, and group learning, participants gain expertise in the design and implementation of effective emergency public health interventions in difficult environments. This training initiative is one of several designed to expand and strengthen the global public health emergency workforce.

traumatic injury deaths could be nearly over 3,500 from May 20 to August 17, 2024, finds new Projections report from researchers at Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, U. of London.

More deaths from disease and injury are expected in Rafah and throughout Gaza. 🔖See the full report here: https://tinyurl.com/4jwpam5v

The ongoing Israel-Gaza war has heavily affected civilians in both the Gaza Strip and Israel. Over 85% of Gazans have been displaced, many multiple times. They live in overcrowded conditions with insufficient access to water, sanitation, and food, and health services have been severely disrupted.

Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health at the Johns Hopkins University initiated a project to estimate the potential public health impact of the crisis under different future trajectories of its evolution to inform humanitarian and other decision-makers working on the Gaza crisis.

The goal of this scenario-based model is to provide a plausible projection of the number of traumatic injury deaths that could occur in Rafah over the coming 3 months so that policymakers and humanitarians can make sound, evidence-based decisions. Ultimately, it is hoped that this projection will make some contribution to saving lives.

Scenario-based models are needed to support forward-looking evidence-based decision-making in Rafah. Since mortality and other data sources in Gaza are no longer able to provide a complete picture of deaths, multiple data sources are needed for this projection.
Paul B. Spiegel, Johns Hopkins Department of International Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Image by Hosny Salah via Pixabay

Protecting Health, and Saving Lives - Millions at a Time. Congratulations to the class of 2024 graduates 🎓

For all information regarding this year's convocation >>>
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/academics/convocation

How has Israel’s closure of Rafah crossing impacted Palestinians? Dr Paul B Spiegel, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health, discusses Israel’s war on Gaza and the humanitarian crisis in the enclave. ...

"Over many years, the disaster response community has grown to trust direct cash transfers like these as a very useful tool", said Shannon Doocy, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health . Despite initial fears of misuse, she said, research has shown cash transfers overwhelmingly benefit the intended recipients who spend it on essentials like housing and food" in The Associated Press.

Read more here: https://apnews.com/article/oprah-winfrey-dwayne-johnson-maui-wildfires-donation-5cf7db9c2bdab098fdc723b2f36d4010?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=share

COVID-19 epidemiology, health services utilisation and health care seeking behaviour during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mweso health zone, Democratic Republic of Congo — JOGH Since its emergence in December 2019 in China, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus has affected all countries and all aspects of our societies. Despite the numerous governmental response strategies aiming to contain the spread of the disease, the world reached more...

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Again Ranked #1 by Peers in U.S. News & World Report | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health The School has held the #1 spot since the rankings began in 1994. The School has also been named by peers as a leader in five specialty areas within public health also rated this year.

The CHH–Lancet Commission on Health, Conflict, and Forced Displacement: reimagining the humanitarian system International humanitarian law is routinely being broken with impunity in conflicts globally. Populism tinged with anti-refugee discourse has led to a weakening of asylum and refugee law in many countries.1 While special protection of hospitals and ambulances was previously largely respected by warr...

Join us for an informative webinar on the Scenario-Based Projections of Excess Deaths in - developed through a collaborative research project between the Health in Humanitarian Crisis Center London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health.
Paul B. Spiegel

🗓 7 March 2024
🕘 9-10 am EST/2-3 pm UK time
Zoom link: https://bit.ly/49w3eD0

🗣️ Calling all health professionals and students: don’t miss AMHP’s National Conference!

⏰ One week left until early bird registration expires!

February 2-3, 2024
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

🎟️ Tickets: amhp.us/event/conference

The Johns Hopkins University and AMMSA are cohosting the conference, which will convene clinicians, researchers, healthcare entrepreneurs, and public health pioneers who will speak about pertinent health topics that impact our communities.

Featuring:
🤩 Book signing with award-winning author of “Medical Apartheid”
🤩 CME credits
🤩 20+ experts from government, academia, and more
🤩 Networking

Student groups of 5+ are eligible to receive discounted admission. Use code GROUP25 at checkout. Student ID will be required at time of check-in at the conference.

I’ve always helped the victims of war. Why am I being shunned for helping people in Gaza? | Paul Spiegel I have been accused of taking sides and betraying my heritage, but I’m simply trying to alleviate human suffering, writes health expert Paul Spiegel

🌟 Exciting News! The Peter Salama Scholarship by Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is now accepting applications for its MPH Tuition Scholarship for Refugees!

🌍 Applicants must be displaced by conflicts in 🇦🇫, African Republic🇨🇫, Republic of Congo 🇨🇩, 🇲🇲, Territory🇵🇸, 🇸🇴, Sudan🇸🇸, 🇸🇾, 🇻🇪 and 🇺🇦.

🗓️Deadline: 31 Dec 2023
Visit: https://tinyurl.com/j89hd3sk
Photo by:Kojo Kwarteng

International Health Master's Programs Information Session  

Judd Walson, Infectious Disease and Child Survival Expert, Joins Bloomberg School as Chair of Department of International Health | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health His work addresses the major factors that underpin poverty and disease and lead to inequity and injustice across the world.

Vaccine Trials Can Be More Inclusive of Older Adults | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Adults over age 75 are routinely excluded from clinical trials in the name of safety and efficiency—but leaving them out also creates uncertainty about how well products actually work for them.

FDA approves first vaccine for RSV, a moment six decades in the making | CNN After a 60-year scientific quest, the world has its first vaccine to protect against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV -- and more are on the way.

One in four babies is born preterm or small for gestational age; some with low birthweight. The implications are vast.

These babies—small vulnerable newborns—have a significantly reduced chance of survival, and those that do survive are susceptible to health problems throughout life.

In response, a new Lancet Series calls for the scale-up of low-cost pregnancy interventions which to prevent millions of vulnerable births every year 👉 https://hubs.li/Q01P7bfw0

Figure: Conceptual framework for the causes and consequences of being born small

MHS in Global Health Economics | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health The MHS in Global Health Economics is a nine-month program that provides students with the skills necessary to use economic tools in the promotion of healthy lifestyles and positive health outcomes. Students will learn how to develop health systems that promote equitable access to care, using applie...

Cyclone Freddy has devastated southern Africa, killing hundreds and displacing communities in Mozambique and Malawi. James Kumwenda, research associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is based in Malawi. He describes the scene in Blantyre, Malawi and provides resources for individuals to donate:

“Key needs I see are for portable water, warmth and clothing. The water board is distributing water but that is not enough. The government has designated shelter areas, but people there need warmth and basic food items to get through the next couple of weeks. Government agencies including the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, key Ministries, NGOs, such as MSF, ADRA, World Vision and the Red Cross are very active, with the Malawi Defense Force are leading rescue and relief efforts. However, the need is overwhelming, and people are despondent. Citizens are donating money and doing what they can to support. A number of NGOs have been engaged in Malawi starting with Cyclone Idai (2019), working with the cholera outbreak and now with cyclone Freddy.

All organizations have mobilized – but these are the more active groups with links where donations can be made:”

ADRA https://adra.org/mozambique-and-malawi-adra-responds-to-extremely-dangerous-tropical-cyclone-idai
Doctors without Borders https://www.msf.org/immediate-medical-needs-malawi-after-cyclone-freddy-hits-southern-region
Malawi Red Cross Society https://www.ifrc.org/emergency/malawi-cholera-outbreak
World Vision International https://www.wvi.org/malawi

Photo credit: USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance

Dr. James Kumwenda of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is based in Malawi and describes the scene there after Cyclone Freddy. He also lists several active organizations on the ground that people can donate to.

Cyclone Freddy has devastated southern Africa, killing hundreds and displacing communities in Mozambique and Malawi. James Kumwenda, research associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is based in Malawi. He describes the scene in Blantyre, Malawi and provides resources for individuals to donate:

“Key needs I see are for portable water, warmth and clothing. The water board is distributing water but that is not enough. The government has designated shelter areas, but people there need warmth and basic food items to get through the next couple of weeks. Government agencies including the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, key Ministries, NGOs, such as MSF, ADRA, World Vision and the Red Cross are very active, with the Malawi Defense Force are leading rescue and relief efforts. However, the need is overwhelming, and people are despondent. Citizens are donating money and doing what they can to support. A number of NGOs have been engaged in Malawi starting with Cyclone Idai (2019), working with the cholera outbreak and now with cyclone Freddy.

All organizations have mobilized – but these are the more active groups with links where donations can be made:”

ADRA https://adra.org/mozambique-and-malawi-adra-responds-to-extremely-dangerous-tropical-cyclone-idai
Doctors without Borders https://www.msf.org/immediate-medical-needs-malawi-after-cyclone-freddy-hits-southern-region
Malawi Red Cross Society https://www.ifrc.org/emergency/malawi-cholera-outbreak
World Vision International https://www.wvi.org/malawi

Photo credit: USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance

How Human Challenge Trials Accelerate Vaccine Development | Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazine Vaccinated, intentionally infected, and sequestered in a hospital unit, volunteers help researchers fast-track promising vaccine candidates.

Afghan Women and Children’s Health Care in ‘Crisis,’ Report Finds New survey findings paint a disturbing picture of maternal and child mortality in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University.

📣📣SCHOLARSHIP ALERT‼️‼️

Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is pleased to offer the Peter Salama Refugee MPH Scholarship. Applicants must be refugees displaced by conflicts in 🇦🇫, 🇨🇫, Republic of Congo🇨🇩, 🇲🇲, 🇸🇴, 🇸🇸, 🇸🇩, 🇸🇾 and 🇻🇪.
Apply today!
Deadline: December 1, 2022
Application details: https://tinyurl.com/2h8hs67v