Section: Module 3: War, Weapons and Conflict Strategies | War and Health | NextGenU.org

  • Competencies covered in this module:
    • Be able to describe how war, weapons, and strategies of violent conflicts impact health
    • Gain knowledge of basic international humanitarian law, human rights, and the ethical codes that regulate health professions
    • Examine the link between the different weapons used in war
    • Learn about biological and chemical weapons and understand how governments prepare responses to such weapons
    • Learn about the direct and indirect consequences of landmines on public health
    • Learn about firearms as a public health concern.

    • What are the different weapons that are used in modern warfare, and what are their direct and indirect effects on public health? After reading the resources for this module, you will become more familiar with the different kinds of modern weapons, including firearms, landmines, biological and chemical weapons. 

      The resources and activities of this module also show the effects of those weapons on public health. Module 3 consists of four lessons, each with its own resources and quizzes, and one with an additional learning activity.

    • Module 3: Lesson 1: Weapons and Health
       
      Student Learning Objectives:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Understand the health effects of war as well as the weapons and strategies of violent conflict.
      • Become familiar with the range of weapons used in modern warfare.
      • Examine the wide-ranging social issues associated with war.
      • Gain a basic understanding of international humanitarian law, human rights, and the ethical codes that regulate the health professions.
      • Examine the link between different weapons used in modern wars and their potential to injure civilians.

      Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 6 hours and 49 minutes.

       
      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • url icon
      MPW Course 3: War, weapons and conflict strategies URL
      Students must
      View

      • 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.

    • url icon
      Effect of type and transfer of conventional weapons on civilian injuries: Retrospective analysis of prospective data from Red Cross hospitals URL
      Students must
      View

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

    • url icon
      Civil War Veterans and Opiate Addiction URL
      Students must
      View
      Watch the entire video. The video explained how prescribing opium and morphine -- common treatments used for wartime injuries -- grew into lifelong drug dependence for many. (73 minutes)
    • resource icon
      Impact of war on the dynamics of Covid-19 in Ukraine File
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Read the entire article.

      135.6 KB
    • url icon
      Mortality in Iraq Associated with the 2003–2011 War and Occupation: Findings from a National Cluster Sample Survey by the University Collaborative Iraq Mortality Study URL
      Students must
      Mark as done

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

    • quiz icon
      Quiz: Module 3: Lesson 1
      Students must
      View
      Receive a grade
      Receive a passing grade

      To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the attempt quiz button to view the case studies and respond to the questions.

      TO PASS THIS QUIZ YOU MUST OBTAIN A SCORE OF 80%.

    • Additional Learning Options
    • url icon
      How has the war impacted Ukraine's environment URL

      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

    • Module 3: Lesson 2: Biological and Chemical Weapons
       
      Student Learning Objectives:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Learn about biological and chemical weapons, including why their development, production, and use are problematic and hazardous to those who would seek to use them and their victims.
      • Understand how and why governments seek to prevent the use of biological and chemical weapons and prepare and develop response plans as an integral part of national emergency and public health plans.

      Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 1 hour and 18 minutes.

       
      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • url icon
      Public health response to biological and chemical weapons: WHO guidance URL
      Students must
      View

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

    • quiz icon
      Quiz: Module 3: Lesson 2
      Students must
      View
      Receive a grade
      Receive a passing grade

      To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the attempt quiz button to view the case studies and respond to the questions.

      TO PASS THIS QUIZ YOU MUST OBTAIN A SCORE OF 80%.

    • Module 3: Lesson 3: Landmines
       
      Student Learning Objective:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Learn about the direct and indirect consequences of landmines on public health.

      Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 1 hour and 13 minutes.

       
      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • url icon
      Direct and indirect consequences of landmines on public health URL
      Students must
      View

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

    • quiz icon
      Quiz: Module 3: Lesson 3
      Students must
      View
      Receive a grade

      To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the attempt quiz button to view the case studies and respond to the questions.

      TO PASS THIS QUIZ YOU MUST OBTAIN A SCORE OF 80%.

    • Module 3: Lesson 4: Firearms
       
      Student Learning Objective:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Learn about the public health concerns regarding firearms.

      Approximate time required to complete the readings (at 144 words/minute) and assignments for this module: 55 minutes.

       
      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • url icon
      Small arms and global health URL
      Students must
      View

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

    • quiz icon
      Quiz: Module 3: Lesson 4
      Students must
      View
      Receive a grade
      Receive a passing grade

      To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the attempt quiz button to view the case studies and respond to the questions.

      TO PASS THIS QUIZ YOU MUST OBTAIN A SCORE OF 80%.