Erasmus Summerschool on Climate Change and Disaster Medicine – Netherlands (IFMSA-NL)

Name of the activity: Erasmus Summerschool on Climate Change and Disaster Medicine

Country/NMO: Netherlands (IFMSA-NL)

Program: Emergency, Disaster Risk & Humanitarian Action

Contact information: [email protected]

Type of the activity: Education

General description:

IFMSA-NL and IPPNW have come together to organize the Erasmus Summerschool on Climate Change and Disaster Medicine. The Summerschool aims to create awareness in medical students about coping with health-related consequences of climate change, nuclear and natural disasters. The Summerschool will consist of lectures, workshops, case studies and excursions about Global Health, Global Climate Change and health impact, Migration problems, nuclear issues and health, war, mental health problems. Before and after the Summerschool, participants are required to take a test measuring their knowledge on the discussed topics. They also have to fill in an evaluation form on the organization of the summerschool in order to receive their certificate for participation. Afterwards, the OC will thoroughly evaluate the Summerschool based on principles such as relevance, efficiency, impact and sustainability.

Focus area:

Disaster resilience (including prevention, preparedness and response)

Problem statement:

Between 1980 and 2012, more than 1.3 billion life years were lost worldwide in internationally reported disasters, making for an annual average of 42 million life years (Noy, I. et al; 2015). Next to that, economic losses are now reaching an average of US$300 billion each year (UNISDR; 2015). This Summerschool will equip medical students with knowledge and skills to tackle these problems and to advocate for improvements in disaster risk management.

Target groups and beneficiaries:

Medical students: 20 international, 5 national participants
beneficiary: local/regional communities

Objectives and indicators of success:

Main objective of the Summerschool
Create awareness in medical students about coping with health-related consequences of climate change, nuclear and natural disasters.

Objectives
After participating in this Summerschool, students:

• are aware of the consequences of climate change on the population;
• have more insight in the connection between climate and specific diseases;
• are familiar with (increasing or decreasing) health problems related to climate change in different populations;
• have knowledge of different weapons of mass destruction, how they work and their health-related consequences;
• see the (strategic) relevance of weapons of mass destruction on a global level and can estimate their impact;
• gain insight into the connection between natural disasters and climate change
• understand the coordination of emergency assistance for nuclear and natural disasters;
• can act adequately in different emergency situations;
• are aware of and can apply specific skills, techniques and treatment in different emergency situations.

Methodology:

7 day Summerschool, addressing topics as Global Health, Global Climate Change and health impact, Migration problems, nuclear issues and health, war, mental health problems, .
Several key note speakers from the IPPNW, MSF, PAX, the military, University Medical Centers in the Netherlands, etc. have been confirmed.
The participants will also be offered several case studies, workshops and excursions to relevant sights.

Plans for evaluation:

When the Summerschool is finished, the participants will be asked to fill in an elaborate evaluation form in order to receive their certificate. This evaluation form will focus on the content and quality of the program but also on the organizational part of the Summerschool and improvements for next year. Participants will also take a test on their knowledge after the Summerschool and this will be compared to the test they took before the Summerschool started. The participants also have to take this test in order to receive their certificate. Afterwards, the OC will thoroughly evaluate the Summerschool based on principles such as relevance, efficiency, impact and sustainability.