Jessica Tucker BSc, MBBS, DMCC’s research while affiliated with University of London and other places

The essence of conflict is the actual or implied use of violence. Recovery implies a return to a previous state. Recovery may be rapid (measured in days or months) or may take many years. What may be called the onset of recovery varies – it may begin almost immediately during the acute phase of a conflict or catastrophe. The immediate provision of food, water, sanitation and shelter via humanitarian efforts in the first days is an illustration of a very early manifestation of conflict recovery. However, the process typically begins in the postemergency phase, when a degree of stability and safety allows a more comprehensive approach.

Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) is the training and career structure for UK NHS doctors, in place since August 2007. It was brought in with the aim of delivering a modernised and focused medical career structure through major reform of postgraduate education. The implementation of MMC has not been without its critics within the sphere of humanitarian operations and beyond – there are ongoing concerns as to whether the move towards early specialisation will reduce the broad spectrum of medical knowledge and skills required by the aid worker in the field. There is also the question of whether a system geared towards achieving completion of training as swiftly as possible will support time spent not directly towards this goal.

Deploying organisations will usually provide medicines for the population at risk and most will provide drugs and equipment for deploying staff. Often, medics still prefer to carry their own emergency pack. Prepacked first aid kits are available from suppliers (see suppliers list later in this chapter) but many of you will wish to customise medicines and equipment, adapting to locations, logistics and length of deployment. The following equipment lists, advice and suppliers are not exhaustive, but should offer a good basis for those planning a comprehensive medical kit bag. We live in the information age, and the proliferation of online Internet textbooks, databases and up-to-date reports has made deployment information much more accessible. Indeed the Internet is now the easiest way to research what is required of an aid worker and how to get involved. Advances in technology have made Internet access in the field much more consistent, with laptop and telephone access by satellite and Internet cafes proliferating all over the world. The publications listed in this chapter are in addition to references and further recommendations at the end of the other chapters in the handbook. Specialist bookshops will carry a range of the weight of publications in the field of humanitarian operations. The questions are what to read, what to buy and what to take on deployments. Publications covering topics in the field of medical care in hostile environments subdivide into clearly recognisable categories.