Conflict and healthcare: a complex challenge

Last week we looked at the challenges to achieving peace, and as Martina has explored in the video, the links between healthcare and conflict are complex and inseparable.

This week, we will focus in on several key aspects of ensuring health and well-being, and we will look at the challenges that we face to reach SDG 3. We will first look at the overlap between SDG 2: Zero Hunger, and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, and the importance of food security and nutrition to health.

Next we will take a look at child and maternal health, and then we will consider emerging trends and challenges in health and the future of healthcare. Following on we will consider the interactions between the environment and health, which will lead us into next week’s focus on SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

Consider some of the comments that Martina makes in her video:

• Health and well-being cannot be achieved without peace.
• Peace is meaningless if we cannot heal the physical and mental health of our communities.
• Health workers deserve protection to do their work in conflict zones, even when healthcare itself is in danger.

• The rebuilding of health systems after conflict is an important marker of peacebuilding.
• Do you agree with these comments? Why/Why not?
• Can you think of any other examples of when healthcare and conflict are intertwined?