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Health as a Bridge for Peace Training in Ambon, Malukus - October 2000

Background

The World Health Organisation introduced the Health as a Bridge for Peace training to Indonesia in October 2000. The training was included as one of the WHO programmes in the Inter Agency Maluku Crisis Appeal which was launched initially in April 2000 and subsequently in November 2001.

The initial phase of the implementation of Health as Bridge for Peace was a workshop held in Yogyakarta inviting health and health related professionals from conflict affected areas in Indonesia. The aim of this training was to create a national pool of health professionals who would be able to function as focal points in their respective geographical areas. One of the key groups that participated in this training was health staff and NGO representatives from the Maluku Islands.

It was decided that the first local level training would take place in Ambon. Planning for this workshop began in November with full participation with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. In order to adapt the international training curriculum to a more Indonesian setting. The Center for Security and Peace Studies from the University of Gadjah Mada was brought in.

The Center was contracted by the World Health Organisation to adapt and implement the next phase of the Health as a Bridge for Peace training in Ambon. The implementation was carried out with participation of two representatives from the Center for Response to Health Emergencies, in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Participants were health professionals from both Muslim and Christian communities recommended by the local health authorities. The list was discussed and amended by representatives from the Center for Response to Health Emergencies and the Center for Security and Peace Studies.

Participants included mostly medical doctors, with 10 from hospitals, 6 from the primary health care level, 6 from Provincial Health Department 5 from NGO sector and a five others were midwives and health planners at the health department. Two trainers were medical doctors who had received training in Yogyakarta.