Abstract
It can be argued that several policies assist in the provision of health care and public health to the society members within a warring country. In this case, health specialists help in educating health workers on how to treat the war victims and provide them with adequate health care services. Further, it is of importance to note that whenever there is a war or a conflict within a country; so many sufferings are experienced especially by the women, children, and the elderly. In this case, women are both physically and mentally affected as they become the victims of rape and other forms of sexual harassment. Based on the case discussed, it can be argued that even after the war women within the camps are sexually harassed; where they have to compromise their stand and principles to get whatever they want from the people in charge.
On the other hand, pregnant women suffer a lot as some go through miscarriages while others lose their lives; as a result of the lack of adequate hygienic assistance during delivery. Further, children are the victims of becoming ‘child soldiers’; a case where they are captured and trained to fight to result in their death while those who survive to live with injuries or permanent disabilities. In addition, children suffer from the trauma of losing their families and relatives; thus becoming orphaned which leads them into child labor among other abuses and crime. Lastly, the elderly in society suffer a lot during the war; as they are not active enough to run away or provide for themselves, leading to their death. Additionally, in most cases the old people in a warring country lack medical attention and care; as those who could take care of them are either engaging in the war; in hiding, or dead.
Introduction
Whenever there is a war in any country, many people within that country lack the required health care services where pregnant women and children are the ones most affected. An example here is the case of the people of Afghanistan when there was a war between them and the United States. On the other hand in Somalia due to the ongoing violence brought about by the Al-Shabab; there is increased suffering among the residents especially women, children, and the elderly as they lack public health services and the required health care provision (Jacobsen, 2007).
Discussion of the policies related to conflict within health systems in a warring country
As a result of these conflicts, there are some policies devised relating to conflict management within the healthcare system. Based on this, the problem of the health care system is reduced through the work of mobile medical teams and training women in these countries; which ensures that there is an improvement within the public health geared towards ensuring the sustainability of the health care system. A good example here is the case of Somalia, where WHO had a specialized trauma doctor at Mogadishu; who was used for the training of local professionals on how to treat shock cases as well as offer urgent care to pregnant women (WHO, 2010).
Further, the ‘Health as a Bridge for the Peace’ policy helps health personnel in offering health programs and assist in bringing peace within warring countries. In this case, this policy integrates peace-building ideas and concerns into the health aid and wellbeing division expansion. Based on this, the HBP is very important in implementing peace-building policies in order to guarantee health benefits with the regard to the perspective of social unsteadiness and emergencies. Additionally, the HGP policy is entrenched in the ethics resulting from human rights and humanitarian values as well as medical principles (WHO, 2000).
Further, it should be noted that guidance and education are provided to the health personnel in the situation of instabilities within a given country. In this case, these health workers are exposed to advice and experiences to care for the victims of health hazards. On the other hand, OCHA is a United Nation arm that brings together compassionate actors to guarantee a rational reaction to emergencies. Based on this, OCHA eases human distress in adversities and emergencies as well as supports the rights of people in need. Additionally, it can further be argued that UNHCR continues to help refugees from a country where there is instability by providing them with treatments. A good example here is the case of Botswana where refugees are provided with treatment under a particular UNHCR plan for HIV Aids deterrence and diagnosis (WHO, 2010).
How wars and conflict in a country affect
Women
It is of importance to note that women and girls are in most cases at higher risks of sexual violence, trafficking, and disfigurement whenever a country is at war. This usually happens at their homes, refugee camps or during a flight in the cases, they are displaced. It should also be noted that the trauma which results from violence continues in women even after the war is over. This is because for instance a woman who was raped during the war is often avoided, disliked, and stigmatized within the society (International Committee of Red Cross, 2009).
On the other hand, women suffer the shock of war when they are widowed, orphaned, or displaced from their families; this causes distress within them as they end up losing their homes, belongings and in some cases have their lives destroyed. It can also be argued that when women are caught and detained they can be forced to fight, which may result in their being wounded or dead within the course of the war. Further, when women lose their parents or husbands they are troubled for the rest of their life as this leads to the loss of all they hold dear (International Committee of Red Cross, 2009).
Children
About children, it should be noted that children are always in trouble whenever there is a war going on within a country; since they are either targeted or captured as a way of provoking their elders. In this case, children lose their families and relatives in the course of the war-making them orphans; who often have no one to depend on. As a result of this, these children end up engaging in child labor and other crimes to at least make a living. On the other hand, the children captured during the war are forced to fight which is abuse to them. It can also be argued that children do not know how to hide or fight during a war; which endangers their lives. In the past, children have been reported to be injured or made permanently disabled whenever there is a war within a country. A good example, in this case, is the child soldiers of Somalia; where many children are being recruited as soldiers by the fortified groups (UNICEF, 2010).
The elderly
The elderly people are among the largest groups of people who lose their lives in a warring country situation. This is the case as a result of their inability to run for their lives during the war and hunger as they have no one to look after them. It should also be noted that the elderly in a warring country suffer greatly for the lack of health care and food; which they require more often than the other age groups resulting in their death (Krill, 1999).
Conclusion
There are policy issues relating to the conflict concerning the overall health care systems within a warring country which are provided to support the war victims. In this case, the health organization’s personnel provide education, experience, and advice to the health workers and women teams within the remote parts of a warring country; which are to be passed on to the war victims. On the other hand, women, children, and the elderly are mostly the victims of war; as they adversely suffer from the war trauma. Further, there are recommendations on how it should be done; in helping war victims as well as preventing conflicts and war within a country
Recommendations
It can be argued that war or conflict within a country brings about a lot of misery and death to the people of the given country. As a result of this, it is recommended that countries should avoid conflict and war; in order to prevent these unnecessary deaths and misery. On the other hand, health organizations should come up with policies that help in assisting the war victims within a warring country by providing them with medical care, guidance as well as counseling. Further, it should be noted that many people die during the war because of the lack of urgent medical care within their reach. On the other hand, health organizations like the NHCR should lobby for peace-building within the warring countries to prevent death and misery.
Additionally, it is of importance to note that women, children, and the elderly in any warring country suffer a lot. From this, it can be argued that women should be provided with guidance and counseling whenever they are raped or sexually harassed; so that they can be relieved of their trauma. On the other hand, children’s rights should be reinforced all over the world so as to protect children from becoming child solder which leads to their death. Further, the government after the war should take care of all the orphaned children and widowed women in order to reduce their after-war trauma. Additionally, the elderly should be provided with a portion of adequate food and medical attention during the wars; in order to reduce their instances of death.
Reference list
Jacobsen, K. (2007). Introduction to Global Health, 1st edition. Boston: Jones & Bartlett Publishers
International Committee of the Red Cross. (2009). Women and War. Web.
Krill, F. (1999). The Elderly in the Situation of Armed Conflict. Web.
UNICEF. (2010). Children Affected by Conflict. Web.
World Health Organization. (2010). Health Action in Crisis. Web.
World Health Organization. (2000). Health as Bridge for Peace. Web.