WHO's role in Keeping Health workers and facilities safe in war

London, 23 April 2012

What does WHO do ?

Expresses concern Documents the problem Humanitarian diplomacy

Advocates

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

What does WHO do ?

Expresses concern
At 64th World Health Assembly (May 2011)
"We are extremely distressed by reports of assaults on health personnel and facilities in .. conflict situations We urge parties to ensure the protection of health workers and health facilities in conflict situations, to enable them to provide care for the sick and the wounded"

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

What does WHO do ?

Documents the problem
Reports on damaged health Structures in Occupied Palestinian Territories

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

What does WHO do ?

Engages in humanitarian diplomacy Yemen
WHO negotiated "the continuous delivery of health services to all affected population without discrimination"

Bahrain
Quiet diplomacy

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

What does WHO do today ?

Advocates

e.g. Article in WHO Bulletin

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

What does WHO do ?

Principles
Health facilities must be treated as neutral premises.
Their sole purpose must be to treat, and protect the health of sick and/or wounded patients. It is the professional and ethical duty of all medical professionals and institutions to remain dedicated to providing medical care to those in need regardless of political affiliation or any other condition

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

What does WHO do ?

Principles
The protection of civilians, health facilities and health professionals during conflict is an obligation under international humanitarian law Unhindered humanitarian access to health facilities for the injured, for those who need care for chronic conditions and for the general public should be secured at all times.

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

Recognition of the problem

On January 21, 2012 WHOs 130th Executive Board adopted the

Resolution EB130.R14
which called upon WHO

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

Recognition of the problem

to provide leadership at the global level in
developing methods for systematic collection and dissemination of data

on attacks on health facilities, health workers, health transports, and patients in complex humanitarian emergencies
in coordination with other relevant United Nations bodies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, avoiding duplication of efforts
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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

Recognition of the problem

There is a serious and widespread problem of attacks on health workers, patients and facilities during armed and civil conflict.

Where is the evidence ?

Reliable information will assist the international community in better understanding the nature of the problem and provide the basis for policy decisions on how to deal with the problem

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

Follow up on the Resolution

WHO organized a first meeting
(March 5, 2012)

To identify the scope of the problem To look at specific objectives and uses for data collection To discuss methodological issues in data collection and reporting

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

Outcomes (1)
An evidence base is needed to understand threats and vulnerabilities.

Analysis will raise awareness and inform prevention strategies It is important that the data be available publicly
Security precautions need be put into place to address problems of retaliation against individuals or groups reporting and facilities and health workers that are subjects of reporting.
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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

Outcomes (2)
There is a role for both incident/event reporting and population based methods.
Should health personnel report attacks to WHO ? (like an alert system) There is potential for using multiple sources and triangulating.

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

Role of WHO and the international community

Document

Provide evidence of the extent of the problem

Look at trends

Advocate
Do preventive diplomacy
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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

Way forward
Mapping of what different agencies are doing Examine methodologies already existing Obtain reports from WHO representatives in the field wherever possible Run a pilot project collating data from open sources with a view to developing a methodology that others can use

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

Way forward
Collaborate with all interested agencies to come to a common agreement on collecting data and developing strategies for advancing this file Adoption of this resolution at the 2012 World Health Assembly

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WHO and Health Care in Danger | London, April 23, 2012

Thank you

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