Operation safe haven: an evaluation of health surveillance and monitoring in an acute setting

From May to June 1999, 3,920 ethnic Albanians from Kosovo arrived in Australia as part of Operation Safe Haven. These people were evacuated from refugee camps in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Initial processing in Australia occurred at East Hills Reception Centre, and accommodation for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Communicable diseases intelligence 2000-02, Vol.24 (2), p.21-26
Main Authors: Bennett, C, Mein, J, Beers, M, Harvey, B, Vemulpad, S, Chant, K, Dalton, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Australia
Child
Child, Preschool
Databases, Factual
Guidelines as Topic
Health Planning - organization & administration
Humans
Infant
Kosovar Refugee Medical Surveillance Group
Middle Aged
Needs Assessment - organization & administration
Population Surveillance - methods
Program Development
Program Evaluation
Public health
Refugees
Yugoslavia - ethnology
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Summary:From May to June 1999, 3,920 ethnic Albanians from Kosovo arrived in Australia as part of Operation Safe Haven. These people were evacuated from refugee camps in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Initial processing in Australia occurred at East Hills Reception Centre, and accommodation for the duration of stay was provided in eight Haven Centres in five States. The arrival of a large number of refugees in a short time frame is unprecedented in Australia. A health surveillance system was developed and critical health data were collected to assess health status and needs, plan care, monitor for potential outbreaks of communicable diseases, track service use, to meet international reporting requirements and document our response to this crisis. In this article the health surveillance system is evaluated and suggestions are offered for the formulation of specific guidelines necessary for health surveillance in acute settings.
ISSN:0725-3141