World Affairs Council
of
Houston
LESSON PLAN: CRISIS IN SUDAN: RESPONDING TO MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES
Background, Activities and Critical Analysis
Time
Subject: World History, Health, International Affairs, Social Studies
Background:
In the Darfur region of Sudan, an area roughly the size of France named
for the Fur people who live there and across the border in Chad, hundreds
of thousands of peoples are displaced and living in makeshift camps.
Through a joint effort of U.N. agencies, non-governmental organizations
and government authorities, progress has been made in providing people
with more food, clean water, medicines and improved sanitation. However
much more needs to be done. Without urgent intensified assistance, the
people are at a major risk of contracting deadly diseases including cholera,
dysentery and malaria.
For a first hand look at conditions in Darfur, please see the photo essay at
the following:
http://www.who.int/features/2004/darfur2/en/print.html
Introduction:
Have the students read the following NewsHour background article about
the current crisis in Darfur:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/Sudan_08-06-04.html. (Students
may also listen to or watch a NewsHour segment on the same topic:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/Africa/july-dec04/Sudan_8-12.html.
The following questions can be used to guide the reading:
(a) How many people are living in the camps? How has this situation been
changing?
(b) What are conditions like in the larger camps closer to cities? In camps
in more rural locations?
(c) What sorts of conditions contribute to the spread of disease?
(d) According to this article, what diseases have been identified? Which
ones lead to death?
Two to three class
periods
Objectives
This lesson will
address the medical
nature of the
humanitarian crisis
in the Darfur region
of Sudan and will aid
students in better
understanding the
nature of cholera,
malaria, hepatitis E,
Ebola and
malnutrition which
have been of major
concern to
humanitarian aid
personnel working in
Internet
Access
the region.
Materials
Crisis in Sudan"
http://www.pbs.org/ne
wshour/bb/africa/july
-dec04/sudan_812.html
Humanitarian Aid
Crisis Worsens in
Sudan's Darfur
Region"
http://www.pbs.org/ne
wshour/updates/Sudan_
08-06-04.html
Guiding Questions for
Research http://wwwtc.pbs.org/newshour/e
xtra/teachers/lessonp
lans/health/sudan_hea
lth_handout.pdf
Poster board,
markers, and other
materials to create a
poster (optional)
Activity #1 -- Developing Familiarity with Some of the Diseases
The following is a group activity to find out more information about cholera, malaria, hepatitis E, Ebola
virus and malnutrition or kwashiorkor. You may break students into groups and assign each group a
disease. After students are finished their research, create a chart on the board and ask each group to
discuss what they found. Write it in the chart for the class to see.
Procedure
1. Give students a copy of the handout, Guiding Questions for Research and ask them to explore the
following Web sites to answer the questions.
Cholera
Source:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/cholera_g.htm#Can%20cholera%20be%20treated
Source: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/cholera/basics.html
Malaria
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/malinfo.htm
Source: http://www.bestdoctors.com/en/askadoctor/m/maguire/jhmaguire_062600_q1.htm
Hepatitis E
Source: Http://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_08_10/en/
Ebola Virus
Source: http://www.who.int/CSR/disease/ebola/en/
Source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2004/pr54/en/
Malnutrition
Source: http://health.allrefer.com/health/kwashiorkor-treatment.html
Extension Activities
Three options are provided below for individual or small group additional activities. These may be
given as homework or additional research activities. A culminating activity taking some kind of action
in support of relief efforts is also recommended.
1. Explore which American-based private voluntary organizations are involved in relief efforts? Which
ones are working specifically with medical problems? What kind of work are they doing? For
information please see http://interaction.org/sudan/Oxfam. As a class discuss and plan activities to
support those agencies working to alleviate the suffering in Sudan.
2. Why is water such a problem? Visit http://www.unhcr.org/ and look for the latest news releases on
the Chad/Darfur location. Create a public service campaign focused on publicizing the lack of clean
water in Darfur. The campaign may be directed toward the school community or your larger local
community.