Working Groups enhance IHP’s way of delivering emergency support

Published 13 June 2014

The IHP Working Groups (WG) have been established to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of IHP operations during emergencies. The WG:s are tasked by the IHP Focal Points to enhance IHP’s preparedness to respond to emergencies, through addressing issues of interoperability, improved service delivery, agreeing on common standards and procedures, as well as ensuring that IHP staff are adequately trained.

The Medical Working Group meeting has just been held in Norway (11-12 June), kindly hosted by DSB. The participants focused on establishing a medical guideline for the medical service component deployed as a part of IHP service packages, as an attempt to streamline and ensure interoperability among the IHP members. The meeting also focused on mapping the IHP capacity and initiating a IHP training module for medical staff. For further information please contact Medical WG Chair (DSB) Øystein Bjørndal (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Stig Rune Pedersen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

The IM/ICT Working Group meeting is at the time of writing held in Norway, hosted by DSB. The meeting focuses on improving the IHP ICT-module and capacity as well as discussing enhanced IHP ICT services in general (for example in regards to ICT services in base camps, common IHP ICT reporting, UNDAC mission software project). For further information please contact IM/ICT WG Chair (DSB) Vidar Skoglund or Stig Rune Pedersen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

The IHP Security Focal Point network met in Sweden the first week of June, to discuss the safety and security aspects of IHP deployments. A Safety and Security policy has been drafted and is awaiting finalization and confirmation by IHP. The IHP Security Focal Points focused on lessons learned from the IHP deployments to the Philippines and South Sudan as well as continuing mainstreaming safety and security standards and tools. The participants also discussed the development of a IHP Safety and Security Management Training which is planned to be launched during the later part of the year. For further information please contact IHP security Focal Point (MSB) Axel Wikerstål (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Per Velandia (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

The Base Camp Working Group met in Denmark in the end of March, kindly hosted by DEMA. The WG addressed the lessons learned from the Philippines deployment. Amongst other topics, this included a thorough discussion on standardization of a light base camp concept. The meeting also discussed green solutions, in terms of energy provision as well as water and sanitation. The WG continues to work with the new IHP office and accommodation handbook and the process is led by MSB. The next meeting is planned to be hosted by THW in September. For further information contact BC WG Chair (DEMA) Allan Jensen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Susanne Berendt (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).