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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Ronald Waldman, MD, MPH, Basic Support for Institutionalizing Child Survival (BASICS), 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 850, Arlington, VA 22203, 202-460-2341, rw178@columbia.edu

Countries emerging from conflict have health parameters that are among the worst in the world. During the past decade, considerable experience has been gained in helping countries either to offer, for the first time, or to restore public health services to populations expecting to reap the benefits of a peace dividend. Even though, in many instances, donors have provided relatively adequate funding, problems that have been commonly encountered include widespread destruction of infrastructure, severe shortages of human resources, inadequate management systems, and ongoing insecurity. Persistent low-level conflict itself has not been a major cause of morbidity and mortality, but its presence in a given area has been strongly correlated with higher mortality rates. In these settings, it may be important for health programs to make measurable contributions to peace processes and to help legitimize newly formed governments. This may mean suspending, in the short-term, principles to which health professionals should always adhere, in order to maximize the change of making long-term gains. This presentation draws on experiences from countries as widespread as Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Liberia, and East Timor. Different approaches by different donors will be briefly described and recommendations regarding the resolution of many of the problems, including those mentioned above, will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess challenges created by a conflict to better design health programs that not only serve the health needs of a population but contribute to a lasting peace.

Keywords: International Health, Politics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Recorded presentation