How is Health as a Bridge for Peace implemented?
Considering WHO’s experience in the field (Angola, Mozambique, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR-Macedonia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, etc.), the essence of HBP can be summarized by the work done in a ‘technical space’ where health personnel from conflicting sides have been producing a joint effort in policy, training and service delivery initiatives.
Examples:
Health Policy
- Adoption by Governments and opposition armed groups of national guidelines and protocols
- Reintegration of demobilized soldiers or minority groups within the national health system
- Elaboration of strategic plans for the health system reform involving all actors in the framework of a post-war reconstruction
Training
- Joint working groups on technical issues such as health information, epidemiology, mental health, physical rehabilitation, health system administration and pharmaceuticals
- Regular contacts between health professional of all communities, through the promotion of multiple cross-community technical conferences, workshops and seminars.
- Exchange activities promoting international links among professionals of different groups
Service Delivery
- Humanitarian Cease-Fires (1985 - 2003):
- In different ways (Humanitarian Cease-Fires, Days of Tranquility and Safe-Peace Corridors) opposite sides collaborated in order to carry out important immunization campaigns in the midst of wars in some 19 countries.