Evidence base for interventions in complex emergencies

Abstract

R F Mollica and colleagues (Dec 4, p 2058)1 state that “public health experts have called for all health interventions in complex emergencies to be evidence-based”. Although the call may have gone out, we fear it has not been heeded. Indeed, The Lancet's Series on complex emergencies largely fails to acknowledge this acute lack of an evidence base.2,3 We have reviewed published papers to assess the impact and cost-effectiveness of six health-related emergency interventions.4 The interventions reviewed were: general rations, supplementary feeding, therapeutic feeding, measles vaccination, vitamin A supplementation, and bed-nets.