VEHA

VEHA

Guidance

Virtual Environmental and Humanitarian Adviser Tool – (VEHA Tool) is a tool
to easily integrate environmental considerations in humanitarian response. Field Implementation guidances are useful for the design and execution of humanitarian activities in the field.

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VEHA - Field Implementation Guidance

Welcome
Health
Essential Healthcare - Child health
Management of newborn and childhood illness
Providing appropriate healthcare at different levels

Providing appropriate healthcare at different levels

Context

Overview
Environmental factors causing/contributing to the needs and affecting the humanitarian activity

Children are more vulnerable than most adults, to infections, diseases, and other risks to their health and lives. The risks are even higher for unaccompanied and separated children.

Implications
Gender, age, disability and HIV/AIDS implications

Children, the elderly, and people living with diseases are more vulnerable to variations in and extremes of heat and cold.

Impacts

Environmental impact categories

Air pollution
Soil pollution
Water pollution
Cultural acceptance
Impact on wellbeing / mental health

Summary of Impacts
Potential environmental impacts
  • Solid waste generation
  • Unsustainable use of natural resources
  • Air, water, and soil pollution
  • Poor mental health and poor life chances
Impact detail
Detailed potential environmental impact information

If children are not provided with adequate health care and/or live in poor environmental conditions, they will be susceptible to illness and disease and will have reduced life chances and life expectancy. This will have environmental impacts including unsustainable environmental coping methods leading to air, water, and soil pollution and waste generation.

Guidance

Summary
Summary of environmental activities
  • Child health assessment
  • Access to nutrition, WASH, education, and shelter
  • Child mental health services.
Detail
Detailed guidance for implementing suggested environmental activities

Assess child health and nutrition, including noting orphans and child-headed households. Design health activities to improve children’s health and life chances. This may be linked to other sectors including nutrition, WASH, access to education and shelter. Provide child mental health services.

Lessons Learnt
Lessons from past experiences

During the global Covid-19 response, many countries paused their child vaccination campaigns. Disease incidence was observed to increase. Even though global pandemics require urgent attention, it is important to maintain normal health services, particularly childhood vaccinations.

Activity Measurement
Environmental indicators/monitoring examples

# of successful referrals to support from other sectors – nutrition, education, shelter

# of children supported with child mental health programmes

Priority
Status
High
Main Focus
Focus of suggested activities

Prevention of environmental damage

Implications
Resource implications (physical assets, time, effort)
  • Time and resources to assess child health and nutrition.
  • Time for referral to other sectors. Time and money to design and provide child mental health services.
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