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Recognizing health workers on World Humanitarian Day 2011

Eight years after the bomb attack at the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, killing 22 people, the world celebrates 19 August as the World Humanitarian Day, paying due tribute to those who risk their lives working with victims of natural disaster and armed conflict. On this day, the Alliance pledges for increased recognition of the invaluable contribution of humanitarian health workers to building peace, security, growth and well-being of affected populations. Below is a review of the latest humanitarian initiatives' by some of our members and partners.

2011 World Humanitarian Day Campaign

The United Nations 2011 World Humanitarian Day Campaign offers a range of factual information, features, videos showcasing real stories, campaign posters and much more to ensure greater awareness of the issue and to increase participation by all parties in relief aid. Visit the web portal to access all the 2011 campaign materials and take action to learn more about humanitarian aid work. The portal also serves as a gateway to many aid organizations working in the field.

• Visit the campaign web portal

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© World Health Organization, War Trauma Foundation, World Vision International

New psychological first aid guide to strengthen humanitarian relief

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO), the War Trauma Foundation (WTF) and World Vision International (WVI) announce the release of a ‘Psychological First Aid Guide for Fieldworkers.’ The guide covers both social and psychological support and involves the provision of humane, supportive and practical help to people suffering from serious crisis events.

• Read the press release

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© ICRC

Health care in danger

The ICRC has been documenting violence against health-care facilities and personnel, and against patients, since 2008 in 16 countries where it is working. The number of incidents that have been recorded is striking. But statistics represent only the tip of the iceberg: they do not capture the compounded cost of violence – health-care staff leaving their posts, hospitals running out of supplies and vaccination campaigns coming to a halt.

New ICRC series of resources under the main theme "Health care in danger":

• Publication "making the case"
• Brochure "a harsh reality"
• Videos revealing the danger health care workers are exposed to

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© Merlin

Alliance member Merlin's campaign "Raise your Hand for Peace"

Please join Merlin and show your support for health workers caught up in conflict by taking part in the petition. Merlin will be taking it right to the UN summit on Peace Day 21 September in New York. - it knows all too well the dangers health workers are facing but needs to act now.

• Sign the petition here

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© GHWA, WHO, IFRC, UNICEF, UNHCR

Joint Statement by Global Health Workforce Alliance, WHO, IFRC, UNICEF, UNHCR "Scaling-up the Community-Based Health Workforce for Emergencies"

The community-based health workforce plays a vital role in building local resilience to disasters and should be scaled-up to protect public health from the increasing number of emergencies around the world. A Joint Statement was developed by the Global Health Workforce Alliance together with the WHO, IFRC, UNHCR, UNICEF and WHO on the role of CHWs in Emergencies. It aims at drawing attention to the vital role played by CHWs in emergency risk management; promoting the scale-up, training and involvement of CHWs; and reinforcing the community-based health workforce.

• Read the Joint Statement

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