当前乌克兰和加沙的人道主义危机,伴随着长期的危机,以及与气候有关的灾害,暴露了人道主义系统的局限性。在这些背景下,人道主义组织经常与收集斗争,分析,口译,利用健康数据,由于具有挑战性的经营环境和资金限制。正是在这些背景下,现场流行病学起着至关重要的作用,但往往被忽视的作用。现场流行病学家面临着独特的挑战,包括快速变化的条件,质量差的数据,和偏见。尽管有这些困难,准确的流行病学数据对于需求评估至关重要,干预指导,和宣传。常规方法通常需要适应危机环境,在测量方面仍然存在差距。本文讨论了流行病学在这种情况下的作用,注意到缺乏训练有素的“人道主义流行病学家”和专门培训是主要问题。为了满足这些需求,意大利流行病学协会于2024年初组织了一个课程,以提高在人道主义危机中工作的工作人员的流行病学技能,并向传统流行病学家介绍危机特定的挑战。该课程涵盖了现场流行病学的关键概念和方法,强调使用二级健康数据。它的积极接待强调了对这种专业培训的需求。改善人道主义危机中的公共卫生信息收集和使用是道德和实践上的必要条件。的确,投资于现场流行病学并认识到其重要性可以加强人道主义干预,更好地为弱势群体服务。
The current humanitarian crises in Ukraine and Gaza, along with the chronic crises, and the climate-related disasters, have exposed the limitations of the humanitarian system. Within these contexts, humanitarian organisations frequently struggle with collecting, analysing, interpreting, and utilising health data, due to the challenging environments in which they operate and funding constraints. It is precisely in these contexts that field epidemiology plays a crucial, but often overlooked role.Field
epidemiologists face unique challenges, including rapidly changing conditions, poor-quality data, and biases. Despite these difficulties, accurate epidemiological data are essential for needs assessment, guidance on interventions, and advocacy. Conventional methods often need adaptation for crisis settings, and there are still gaps in measurement.This article discusses the role of epidemiology in such contexts, noting a shortage of trained \'humanitarian
epidemiologists\' and specialised training as major issues.To address these needs, the Italian Association of Epidemiology organised a course in early 2024 to enhance the epidemiological skills of staff working in humanitarian crises and introduce traditional
epidemiologists to crisis-specific challenges. The course covered key concepts and methods of field epidemiology, emphasising the use of secondary health data. Its positive reception underscored the demand for such specialised training.Improving public health information collection and use in humanitarian crises is an ethical and practical necessity. Indeed, investing in field epidemiology and recognising its importance can enhance humanitarian interventions and better serve vulnerable populations.