Operation Safe Haven: an evaluation of health surveillance and monitoring in an acute setting

Authors

  • Catherine Bennett Master of Applied Epidemiology Program, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory; Hunter Public Health Unit, PO Box 466, Wallsend, New South Wales, 2287.
  • Jacki Mein Master of Applied Epidemiology Program, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
  • Mary Beers Master of Applied Epidemiology Program, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
  • Bronwen Harvey Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
  • Subramanyam Vemulpad South Western Sydney Public Health Unit, Liverpool, New South Wales
  • Kerry Chant South Western Sydney Public Health Unit, Liverpool, New South Wales
  • Craig Dalton Hunter Public Health Unit, Wallsend, New South Wales

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2000.24.3

Keywords:

Kosovar refugees, refugee health

Abstract

From May to June 1999, 3,920 ethnic Albanians from Kosovo arrived in Australia as part of Operation Safe Haven. These people were evacuated from refugee camps in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Initial processing in Australia occurred at East Hills Reception Centre, and accommodation for the duration of stay was provided in eight Haven Centres in five States. The arrival of a large number of refugees in a short time frame is unprecedented in Australia. A health surveillance system was developed and critical health data were collected to assess health status and needs, plan care, monitor for potential outbreaks of communicable diseases, track service use, to meet international reporting requirements and document our response to this crisis. In this article the health surveillance system is evaluated and suggestions are offered for the formulation of specific guidelines necessary for health surveillance in acute settings. Commun Dis Intell 2000;24:21-26.

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References

United States Agency for International Development, Bureau for Humanitarian response, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance. Kosovo Assessment Report 1998.

PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. The disease problems of Kosovan refugees in Albania. CDR Weekly 1999;9:155.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: www.unhcr.ch/news/news.htm.

World Health Organization. Handbook for emergency field operations. www.who.int/hinap/guidelines/handbook/cover.htm

Medecins Sans Frontieres. Refugee Health: An approach to emergency situations. Macmillan Distribution Ltd. U.K. 1997.

United States Department of Health and Human Services. Famine-affected, refugee, and displaced populations: recommendations for public health issues. MMWR 1992;41:1-76. www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/000119261.htm

Centers for Disease Control. Guidelines for evaluating surveillance systems. MMWR 1988;37:1-18.

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Published

17/02/00

How to Cite

Bennett, Catherine, Jacki Mein, Mary Beers, Bronwen Harvey, Subramanyam Vemulpad, Kerry Chant, and Craig Dalton. 2000. “Operation Safe Haven: An Evaluation of Health Surveillance and Monitoring in an Acute Setting”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 24 (February):21-26. https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2000.24.3.

Issue

Vol. 24 (2000)

Section

Original article

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Copyright (c) 2000 Communicable Diseases Intelligence

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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