Warning system for Extreme weather events, Awareness Technology for Healthcare, Equitable delivery, and Resilience (WEATHER)

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (United Nations, 2015) places a strong focus on disaster risk management and promoting health resilience. Extreme Weather Events (EWE) cause health service disruptions, have a significant impact on health systems lacking resilience/capacity and affect vulnerable communities. It is therefore necessary to build resilient health systems to ensure effective disaster risk management and the delivery of quality healthcare (Fernandes et al, 2022). Developing climate informed health surveillance systems can greatly enhance the capacity of health systems to prepare for and adapt to increasing climate-sensitive disease risks and outbreaks. There is a requirement that health workforces are increasingly informed and trained on the connection between climate change and health and capacity-building covers a comprehensive set of relevant skills and is routinely integrated into health workforce development (WHO, 2021). Weather patterns in KwuZula-Natal (KZN) province South Africa, are less predictable due to climate change causing significant disruption in communication, severe flood damage, limited access to safe, clean drinking water and infectious disease outbreaks causing deaths. An early warning system would assist communities/ health systems to prepare/ manage risk during weather-related flooding.

This studentship will assess resilience of health systems to respond to flooding and health work force and facility assessment taking a mixed method approach. This will involve piloting a developed training programme (Policy development, risk assessment, disaster management, emergency preparedness) in tandem with a mentorship–group and individual programme to build the capacity and capabilities of healthcare workers building resilience for disaster risk management.

The evaluation will apply an overarching Realist Evaluation (RE) and Social Return on Investment (SROI) approach (focus groups, interviews and questionnaires) to evaluate the efficiency, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of the impact of training and mentoring on health outcomes during flooding in KZN province. Modules will be developed and delivered over a 12-month period. Modules will focus on leadership skills, risk assessment and disaster management, using data to inform decision making and planning in the health service. Training will consist of didactic teaching, group work, case studies and workplace-based exercises delivered through a combination of in-person and online sessions. Pre and post training evaluations will be conducted to assess changes in knowledge and practice. The training of healthcare workers will go beyond the facilities in the study sites and will be extended to the relevant healthcare workers in health facilities in all 11 health districts in KZN province. An expected minimum of 200 healthcare workers will be trained.

The objectives of the project are to

1. To assess the resilience of the health system to respond in an EWE.

2. Survey of health workforce knowledge awareness and practice.

3. Risk assessment of facilities to establish climate resilience in terms of WHO Building blocks

4. To train and mentor healthcare workers on how to ensure a resilient health system and respond in extreme weather events.

5. To explore the social, economic and environmental impact of training for healthcare workers in building resilience.

Tenure – 4 year PhD

Mandatory Specification

Candidates for this project will require a background in public health, health systems, psychology, social sciences, nursing, economics or other cognate discipline. All candidates should have a minimum of 2:1 honours degree (level 8) in the disciplinary area outlined or in a cognate discipline. Candidate should be highly motivated, enthusiastic individuals.

How do I apply?

To apply, please access the following link and complete the application form in full:

https://forms.office.com/e/a2umwUYDNF

• Unfortunately, we are unable to provide individual feedback to applicants.
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.
• At this stage only successful candidates will be contacted to submit CV, transcripts and other relevant documentation.
• For successful candidates, referees will also be contacted at this stage for a reference.

Applications must include: 

(i) a completed application form 

(ii) English language requirements – see https://www.rcsi.com/dublin/postgraduate/policies-and-guidelines/english-language-requirements.

Deadline: All applications must be made online by 31 May 2024, (12am, midnight)

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure the application form is completed in full and on time. Late and/or incomplete applications will not normally be assessed.

Further information on the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland can be found here: https://www.rcsi.com/

Expected shortlisting date – 10th June 2024

Expected interview dates – 21st, 24th and 25th June 2024

Projected start date of position – 16th September 2024

Supervisor Information

• Professor Mary Lynch
• Professor Mary Rose Sweeney
• Dr Chiara Pittalis