Health Diplomacy as a Tool to Build Resilient Health Systems in Conflict Settings—A Case of Sudan

Pattanshetty, Sanjay; Bhatt, Kiran; Inamdar, Aniruddha; Dsouza, Viola; Chattu, Vijay Kumar; Brand, Helmut

doi:10.3390/su151813625

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 35 publications

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“…The military conflict in Sudan has worsened healthcare challenges by destroying vital infrastructure, including clinics and hospitals, and disrupting supply chains for medical supplies ( Khogali & Homeida, 2023 ; Pattanshetty et al, 2023 ). This exacerbates existing difficulties in providing maternal healthcare, especially in rural areas, where the influx of displaced people strains already stretched healthcare systems ( Sami et al, 2020 ; Wharton et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the military conflict in Sudan on maternal health: a mixed qualitative and quantitative study

Miskeen

2024

PeerJ

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Objectives Ongoing military conflict in Sudan has had significant repercussions on the health and well-being of the population, particularly among women of reproductive age. This study aimed to investigate the impact of conflict on maternal health by employing a mixed qualitative and quantitative research approach. Methods Through in-depth interviews and survey questionnaires (388 women), this study examined the experiences and challenges faced by pregnant women and new mothers and the availability and accessibility of maternal healthcare services in conflict-affected areas. Using a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 35 women who had recently given birth or were pregnant in regions affected by the Khartoum State–Sudan conflict. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data collected from the interviews. Result Most women did not have access to healthcare services (86.6%), and out of the total sample, 93 (24%) experienced adverse outcomes. The factors associated with adverse effects were parity (OR 1.78, CI [1.15–2.75], p-value 0.010), gestational age (OR 2.10, CI [1.36–3.25], p-value 0.002), access to healthcare (OR 2.35, CI [1.48–3.72], p-value 0.001), and delivery mode (OR 1.68, CI [1.05–2.69], p = 0.030). Factors significantly associated with accessibility to maternal healthcare services included age (OR, 1.28; = 0.042) and higher conflict levels (1.52 times higher odds, p = 0.021). The narratives and experiences shared by women exposed the multifaceted ways in which the conflict-affected maternal health outcomes. Conclusion The significance of this study lies in its potential to contribute to the existing literature on maternal health in conflict-affected areas, especially in Sudan, and to help us understand how women can receive maternal health services.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the military conflict in Sudan on maternal health: a mixed qualitative and quantitative study

Miskeen

2024

PeerJ

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Paving the complex path to building climate resilient cities through disaster health diplomacy and international public health policy

Tunalıgıl (md, Mph, Phd)

2024

Resilience

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Disaster resilience defines society’s capabilities to resist/adapt/recover from hazardous events. Priorities for action were outlined at the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction to reduce disaster risks by understanding the process, strengthening governance, investing in resilience, improving preparedness/effective response capacities/rehabilitation processes/reconstruction procedures. Disaster diplomacy is a fast growing interdisciplinary field. Natural disasters potentially generate opportunities for diplomatic interaction between rival parties/conflicting states. Climate crisis is growing. By large, Summer 2023 was globally the warmest on record. The 2015 Paris Agreement was a landmark; UNOHCHR proposes a universal decleration of disaster rights. Climate change has widespread impacts on human health. “The greatest health threat of the 21stcentury” affects socio environmental determinants of health, clean air/water/food/shelter. Ninety percent of all disasters are climate/weather related, resulting in >410,000deaths in the last decade, expected to cause 250,000 additional deaths/year from malnutrition/malaria,/diarrhoea/heat stress in 2030 2050. IFRC focuses on strengthening ownership/community leadership/outreach/funding/forecasting/anticipatory action. Climate related flashpoints are the early warnings of impending crises. Turkey Greece have a lot in common from a climate change/disaster resilience viewpoint. Successive earthquakes generated rescue responses/mutual aid/outpouring of sympathy between the two countries within the last decade. Extreme weather events, high temperatures, severe rainfalls continue to batter both countries. Global warming brought intense flooding/wildfires to Southeast Europe/Southwest Asia. Climate change is expected to become the strongest driver of human migration through complex mechanisms in the Mediterranean Basin. The sustainability of Greece’s migration policies may be challenged against the global climate crisis. Environmental change has potential impacts on human health. Health diplomacy in international relations focuses on protecting health/well being. In the past, health interventions as foreign policy were regarded not to be associated with diplomatic disaster efforts. This oral presentation challenges earlier opinions and proposes a “climate change health diplomacy model” for improving capacities in disaster resilience. Around the world, health care professionals speak a unique/universal language of their own. Countries with “otherwise conflicting interests,” stand in solidarity during natural disasters. Through further elaborating on the principles of sustainable collaboration on disaster risks/health diplomacy/climate change, a “first time disaster health diplomacy model” may be developed to serve the world. An outline is hereby presented, 1 to define paths of communication versus the current ad hoc disaster diplomacy efforts, 2 to incorporate risks into the disaster diplomacy plan, 3 to incorporate a well planned disaster health diplomacy agreement. As the Turkish saying goes, “HEALTH COMES FIRST”.

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Health Diplomacy as a Tool to Build Resilient Health Systems in Conflict Settings—A Case of Sudan

Cited by 2 publications

References 35 publications

The impact of the military conflict in Sudan on maternal health: a mixed qualitative and quantitative study

The impact of the military conflict in Sudan on maternal health: a mixed qualitative and quantitative study

Paving the complex path to building climate resilient cities through disaster health diplomacy and international public health policy

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