Intro Technical Sheets
A minimum level of standardization is needed to keep data processing technologies coherent both in the field and between MSF sections. This is especially relevant for hardware specifications and software applications.
The ICT departments of all sections try to find the best compromise between requirements in the field and the rapidly evolving technology. Do not hesitate to contact them for any information regarding current standards.
Even though computers are very useful for transmitting information and administering a mission, you should bear in mind that:
- proper measures must be taken to avoid hardware damage (by using an UPS, a power surge protector, etc.)
- computer use is only for professional purpose, not for personal/private tasks
- all locations using data processing techniques should have mechanisms in place to avoid data/communication loss, such as backups, a proper internet connection, a good local network, etc.
As a result of the widely differing levels of computer skills and the particularly high staff turnover of MSF missions, many computer-related problems arise following staff changes. It is therefore essential:
- keep track of your inventory
- if the IT environment grows (too) big, make sure you have enough staff to support it
- always to follow MSF standards regarding software and hardware
- not to personalize the processing of data to the extent that you are the only one who understands it
- to set up a double archiving system for important information,backups to the NAS system and from the NAS to an external hard drive stored in a different location
- to BACK UP YOUR DATA!
The food products in this chapter of the catalogue can usually be bought locally. Brands and packaging might vary, as well as the exact (net) volume.
1. Definition of needs
- Evaluate the needs together with the medical team.
- Propose suitable responses in logistic terms: construction, water and sanitation, human resources etc.
2. Site selection
- Identify a site in agreement with the local authorities.
- Take into consideration formal and customary law, and respect local customs.
- Find out about geographical and climatic conditions (whether in an earthquake zone, flood-risk area or basin; strong winds; high ground; rainfall and rainy season; winter conditions etc.)
- Check that water is available nearby.
- Check that there is easy access for supplies and patients.
- Select a larger site than needed.
- Select a site on a gentle slope to facilitate drainage.
- Fence the site off quickly and have it guarded.
- Draw up overall and specific building plans (ground plan, medical facilities, sanitation, access etc.).
3. Technical considerations
- Identify the type of shelter to be used on the basis of timescale, cost, available human resources, means and conditions of transport, existing buildings, locally available materials etc.
- Consider the various standardised solutions: tents (tunnel, winter...), plastic sheeting, local shelters, partitioning of collective centres etc.
4. Human resources
- Identify available national human resources (site foremen, piece-workers, labourers etc.).
- Enquire about the legislation governing hiring of staff.
- Monitor the size of the payroll.
5. Organisation of the work
- Organise the work teams.
- Manage the supply of materials.
- Draw up a phased work plan, based on medical priorities.
- Monitor the site's financial transactions and accounting.
During the emergency phase, the general MSF policy is to instal health facilities under tents.
In the post-emergency phase, it is important to plan the construction of facilities that will improve the level of care provided.
These facilities must be suitable for healthcare, and suited both to the environment (in climatic, ecological, social and political terms) and to the context (building techniques, available skills etc.).
The roof cover must be able to resist wind and bad weather. The walls, light and non-load bearing, can be made of plastic sheeting, corrugated iron, straw, bamboo etc. The floor is either of rammed earth, with or without plastic sheeting, or is covered with smoothed concrete. The lifespan of the building should be at least 2 years, without maintenance during the first year.
"Temporary Health Structures Guidelines"
This guide contains all the information you need to set up and maintain temporary health facilities. It contains ground plans and specific sanitation plans for each type of facility, as well as an estimate of the materials required. These plans are examples, designed with the input of medical and logistical experts. Putting them into practice will often require having the skills to adapt them.
This guide has two distinct and complementary functions. On one hand, it can assist the decision-making process during the development of a health facility project and facilitate communication between the field and the capital. On the other hand, it serves as a technical aid for field logisticians regarding site choice, construction methods and sourcing of materials.
- L020EMEM02E-P Emergency preparedness - The spirit and the toolkit
- L020EMEM03E-P The priorities - Situations with displacement of population
- L043BUIM07EFP Temporary Health Structures
- L043BUIM06E-P Shelter - Situations with displacement of population
- L043BUIX02E-P Plastic sheeting
- L043SHEX01E-P Transitional settlement for displaced populations
- L043SHEX02E-P Tents, a guide to the use and logistics of family tents
- L043SHEX03E-E Shade nets: Use, deployment and procurement
CAUTION
Articles which are only delivered as part of a kit (motor pumps, water tanks, pipework, tools and sprayers) are not described in the Logistic Catalogue, but can be found in the Kit Catalogue (KWAT).
"Public Health Engineering In Precarious Situations"
This guide is a reference manual for engineers, logisticians, and all those concerned with environmental health in humanitarian relief operations associated with natural disasters or conflicts.
You will find in it information on water supply, sanitation, wastewater and sewage disposal, waste management, dead body management and vector control.
The book's main focus is on technical aspects and equipment; it does not cover hygiene promotion, but gives references to other books that do.
1. Water needed
- What is the target population? (Take account of possible fluctuations in the future.)
- Is MSF in charge of water supply for the whole population?
- What quantity of water do you plan to supply per person per day?
- 5 l is a strict minimum during the emergency phase.
- 10 l is acceptable for a transitional period.
- 20 l should be the standard for the medium and long term.
- What quantity of water do you need for medical facilities?
- Feeding centre: 30 l/person/day.
- Dispensary: 5 l/consultation.
- Hospital: 50 l/bed/day (40 - 60 l).
NB: You should add 15% to account for losses during distribution and transportation.
- How many distribution points are necessary?
- How many times a day can you fill the tanks?
2. Water available
- What types of water source are available? Rain, lake, river, spring, well, borehole, etc.
- How far away are these sources?
- Should transportation be by pipe or by truck?
- What is the water quality?
- Do you suspect faecal contamination?
- Do you need a water testing kit?
- In all situations, chlorination should be organised. In some cases, it should be combined with sedimentation (in 30 m³ tanks), or filtration (water treatment plant).
- Draw a plan of your camp to review your projected water supply network: how many sites, pipes, roads, access points etc.
3. Equipment needed
Taking account of the answers to the questions above and of your map, you should define your needs in terms of MSF standard kits and modules, which are presented in this catalogue.
EXAMPLE
A population of 30000 people is placed in a camp with water available 200 m away. MSF is responsible for providing water to the whole camp for 2 months.
Water needed
- For the population: 30000 people x 10 litre/person (transitional period) = 300 m³/day
- For the medical facilities:
- feeding centre: 80 patients x 30 litre/patient/day = 2400 litre/day
- hospital: 20 beds x 50 litre/bed/day = 1000 litre/day
- total: 3400 litre/day
- Total water required: 300 + 3.4 + 15% = 350 m³/day
Distribution
- For the population:
- 1 distribution ramp = 6 taps = 6 x 250 people = 1500 people
- 30000/1500 = 20 ramps = 10 water distribution modules
- rule of thumb:
- minimum storage = 5 l / person
- => 30000 x 5 l = 150 m³ total storage capacity required
- => 150 m³ / 15 m³ tank = 10 tanks to be ordered
- For the medical facilities:
- 2 days' storage capacity is mandatory
- feeding centre: 2.4 m³ x 2 days = 4.8 m³ => order tank of 5 m³
- hospital: 1 m³ x 2 days = 2 m³ => order tank of 2 m³
- The facilities, being a long way from the river, will be supplied by a 5 m³ tanker truck.
Sedimentation
- A tank of 30 m³ has a height of 1.5 m. Sedimentation takes place at 100 cm/hr.
- 150/100 = 1.5 hrs to 2 hrs is needed for the sedimentation of a full tank + count 1 hr for filling the tank and 1 hr for emptying it => total time required = 3.5 to 4 hrs
- 5 batches of 25 m³ can be made in one day (no night work) => one tank can produce 125 m³ per day
- Tanks required: 350 m³/ 125 m³ = 3 tanks of 30 m³ are needed
Water chlorination
- 1 kit contains 15 kg of chlorine, enough for 10,000 people for one week => for 30,000 people 3 kits are necessary
- Additional chlorine calculations: for 30,000 people over two months, 405 kg of chlorine are necessary. Minus the first 45 kg in the kits => order 360 kg of chlorine
Water pumps
- 1 pump for sedimentation
- 1 pump for tanker truck
- 2 pumps for the rest of the distribution
- (diesel or petrol, depending on the fuel available)
Piping
- The map of the network shows a total requirement of 480 m of piping.
- The kits (pumps and tanks) already provide a significant quantity of piping, so order 2 modules of additional piping to complete.
Others
- 2 water supply toolkits
- 2 2"/3" adaptation kits