War and Health

• Read this course for a general overview of the role of health workers in peace-building as well as to learn the basic terminology and strategies for peace related work.

• Read Chapter 8 titled "Collective Violence"  (page 213-237).  It defines collective violence and the importance of studying it. This chapter also outlines the factors that affect collective violence, and the role played by health professionals in its prevention.

• Read this article. Understand the role health workers play in preventing and mitigating conflict, as well as the limitations for health profesionals on this subject.

• Read Chapters 2-7 and 9 to learn more about several different forms of violence -- self-inflicted violence, violence toward family members (including children and the elderly), and sexual violence.  Collective violence (chapter 8) was already read in this Module.  Reflect on ways in which a better understanding can help prevent violence.

• Read Chapter 1 titled "Violence - a global public health problem" (pages 1-19) to get a clearer overview of violence, what it means, its impact on global health and how to prevent it with a public health approach.

• Read this article to understand the role public health plays in humanitarian aid and peace-building. Consider the multiple roles and the complexity of public health in terms of peace-building and the defense of human rights.

• Read this document to get an overview of The Declaration of Human Rights, in order to understand its relationship with public health.

• Read this paper to understand the importance of developing competencies for teaching emergency preparedness to students in health care professions. Review the list of competencies and possible useful strategies and concepts.

• Read the article.  It describes the connections between armed conflict, public health, and the changing climate. 

• Read Chapter 1 titled "I. What is the Right to Health?" (pages 3-11) to understand the relationship between health care and human rights, including how these two interact and are dependent upon each other.

• Read this course to understand the relationship between international humanitarian law and human rights, as well as the ethical codes regulating the health professions. Understand the health worker's responsibility to promote and defend the right to health.

• Scroll down and click on the link to download the article titled "Health and Human Rights" by Johnathan Mann et al.  Read this article to understand the relationship between health care and human rights. Understand how the potential collaboration between health care and human rights as well as the violations of human rights have impacts on health.

• Read this article and learn about the ways in which human rights and public health have influenced the availability and definition of essential medicines.

Read "Key health risks" (pgs. 2-4).

Read the entire article.

• Read this course to gain an understanding of the health effects of war, weapons, and strategies of violent conflict. Consider how these influence health and what can be done to prevent and mitigate them.

• Read this article to examine the link between different weapons used in modern wars and their potential to injure civilians.

Read the entire article.

• Read this article to learn about the direct and indirect deaths attributable to the war in Iraq between 2003 and 2011.

Read the following sections:
- Environmental damage in Ukraine
- Long term health risks
- Unsafe water supply
- Military waste in Ukraine
- Nature in Ukraine is suffering
- Toxic weaponry

• Read all sections of chapter 3 within this report from the World Health Organization. You will learn about biological and chemical weapons.

• Read this report to learn more about landmines and their impact on public health.

• Read this report and learn about the public health concerns regarding firearms.

• Read this article and learn about the influence that health care professionals can have in anti-nuclear weapon campaigns.

• Read this report and learn about major policy obstacles that stand in the way of the nuclear-armed states deciding to eliminate their weapons.

• Read the report and learn about the impacts and threats a nuclear war could have on public health.

• Read this article and learn about the legality of nuclear weapons use and the issues of real and lasting threats to public health.

• Click on the interactive map and read the text below the map to learn more about nuclear weapons around the world.

• Read the report and learn about appropriate precautions and responses to nuclear terrorism.

• Read this treaty to learn about the agreement that was signed in 2010 between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on measures for the further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms.

• Read the fact sheet to learn about the environmental changes and threats that would be caused by a nuclear war.

• Watch the 55-minute version of the film.

• Read this article from the Vancouver Observer to learn more about the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster and its later impacts.

• Read this course and examine the interconnections between poverty, development, and violent conflict.

• Read this article and understand the relationship between structural violence and the work done in clinical practice.

• Read the content under "Introduction" and "Conclusion."

Read the entire article.

• Read this course and describe key aspects of the history of war and medicine. Pay attention to the ways in which health and health care are influenced by war.

• Scroll down and click on the link to download the article titled "Peace Through Health and Its Potential as a Transformative Lens" by Dr. Nancy Doubleday.  Read this article and learn about alternative aproaches for building peace through health care.

• Read this article to learn about how collaboration can positively affect public health, even in areas and times of conflict.

• Read this course and learn about the ethical implications of dealing with immigrants and refugees and providing them with health care. Describe and understand their needs in terms of their health and well-being.

• Read this article and understand the special needs of refugees in terms of health care. Learn the competencies required to effectively provide medical care to refugees.

• Read this article to learn how to recognize and appropriately treat mental health problems among refugees and immigrants.

• Read this course and consider the origin and extent of different types of violence at the micro level, including community violence, domestic violence and suicide.

• Read this report to learn about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Understand the key points of its etiology, its signs and symptoms, as well as its diagnosis and treatment.

• Read this text to learn about the best practices to address violence during and after disasters and to learn how to respond through early and proactive action using a public health approach.

• Read the document to learn about current terminology and best practices regarding self-directed violence (SDV), an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.

Read the content from the heading "The Events of Mass War-Trauma" up to "Atypical Mental Health Problems of Mass Trauma in Africa."

Read the entire page up to the heading "Addressing the problem".

Read the content from the heading "Addressing the problem" to the end of the page.

Read the content under the heading "Types of Interventions" on pages 13-15.

Watch the entire webinar. (75 minutes)