The Sphere standards were created in 1997 to improve disaster response quality and accountability. They establish minimum standards in four sectors: water/sanitation/hygiene, food/nutrition, shelter/settlements, and health. The health standards aim to prevent excess mortality and morbidity by maintaining crude and under-5 mortality rates below double pre-disaster levels through essential health services. Preparedness is key and includes contingency planning, stockpiling, emergency services, training, and community planning to ensure health facilities remain functional during disasters.

1. Sphere Minimum Standards – Health in Emergencies Sensitization workshop of Medical Officers

2. What is Sphere The Sphere was initiated in 1997 by a group of humanitarian NGOs and IFRC. Aim was to improve the quality of actions during disaster response and to be held accountable for them. Two core beliefs: Those affected by disaster have a right to life with dignity and, therefore, a right to assistance; All possible steps should be taken to alleviate human suffering arising out of disaster or conflict. Framed Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response. Sensitization workshop of Medical Officers

3. Minimum standards cover four sectors: Water supply, sanitation & hygiene promotion; Food security and nutrition; Shelter, settlement and non-food items; Health It has the minimum standard – followed by a series of key actions, key indicators and guidance notes. Sensitization workshop of Medical Officers

4. Public Health Care in Disasters Primary goal of humanitarian response is to prevent and reduce excess mortality and morbidity. Maintain the crude mortality rate (CMR) and under-5 mortality rate (U5MR) at, or reduce to, less than double the baseline rate documented for the population prior to the disaster. By Providing essential health services, including preventive and curative interventions that are effective in reducing health risks. Sensitization workshop of Medical Officers

5. Essential health services are priority health interventions that are effective in addressing major causes of excess mortality and morbidity. Better response can be achieved through better preparedness. Preparedness should be based on an analysis of risks. Sensitization workshop of Medical Officers

6. Preparedness includes: Contingency planning, Stockpiling of equipment and supplies, Establishment and/or maintenance of emergency services and stand-by arrangements, Information management and coordination arrangements, Personnel training, Community-level planning, Drills and exercises. So as to ensure that health facilities remain functional even during disasters. Sensitization workshop of Medical Officers

7. Minimum Standards These are qualitative in nature and specify the minimum levels to be attained in the provision of health services. Sensitization workshop of Medical Officers

8. Key Actions Suggestive practical actions to attain the minimum standard. Some actions may not be applicable in all contexts, It is up to the practitioner to select the relevant actions and devise alternative actions that will result in the standard being met. Sensitization workshop of Medical Officers

9. Key Indicators These are ‘signals’ that show whether the standard has been attained. They provide a way of measuring and communicating the impact, or result, of programmes as well as the process, or methods, used. The indicators may be qualitative or quantitative Sensitization workshop of Medical Officers

10. Guidance Notes Include specific points to consider when applying standard, key actions and indicators in different situations, guidance on tackling practical difficulties, and advice on priority issues. Also include critical issues relating to standard or actions or indicators, and describe dilemmas or gaps in current knowledge. Sensitization workshop of Medical Officers

11. Sensitization workshop of Medical Officers

12. Thanks Sensitization workshop of Medical Officers