Field Assessment

Abstract

This chapter provides guidance on post-disaster field assessment. Many assessments will occur in the post-disaster health sector. These include assessments of facility damage, medical logistics, health status, nutritional status, needs, hazards, probabilities, vulnerabilities, capabilities, risk, etc. However, numerous problems surround survey team leaders, issues in statistical representativeness, piloting of data gathering instruments, and complicated data management processes. Generic data collection forms should be standardized for the region and customized by parties to a (sub)national assessment. Such forms may already exist at MOH. If not, forms from external sources may be helpful though modifications may be needed and should be done in collaboration with the MOH. Forms should be simple with standard definitions and minimum essential data sets (MEDS) to avoid overburdening field workers. Field conditions are fluid, data are perishable, and informants are fickle. In collecting field data relevant for decision-making, several cardinal rules apply.