The year 2023 is coming to an end. At the end of the year, we would like to look back at the successes but also the challenges we were confronted with and will be confronted with. Global issues have increased in intensity and speed. At this time, our thoughts are with those most affected and we hope for more peaceful times ahead. However, the year 2023 has also shown that crises are also an opportunity for change and that many people are committed to a better world. This gives hope that we can continue to act together to hand over a healthy world. The proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together” reminds us that there is a need for global solidarity not only as a means of reducing health inequalities but also as a way of putting up a united force against global health challenges.
Wishing you a Happy Holiday Season, we would like to remind you that at this moment many people in the world are experiencing war. As an alliance that deals with health, the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery does not aim to discuss responsibilities, because there are too complex reasons behind war, but we aim to remember the effects that war has on people’s health.
War has a catastrophic effect on the health and well-being of nations. War and armed conflict cause a significant loss of human life and are a major cause of disability worldwide. In addition to those hurt and killed as a direct result of violent conflict, a vast amount of people are also negatively impacted by the wider effect of war on health.
War diverts essential and often scarce resources from those who need it to survive the war effort. It also damages the infrastructure put in place to support healthcare. War forces people to flee their homes in search of safety, with the latest figures from the UN estimating that around 70 million people are currently displaced due to war. This displacement can be incredibly detrimental to health, with no safe and consistent place to sleep, wash, and shelter from the elements. It also removes a regular source of food and proper nutrition.
War inevitably reduces access to clean water, food, and sanitation. This further increases the risk of contracting communicable diseases. It elevates the risk of malnutrition and diseases linked with malnutrition. Lack of access to clean water can also enhance the prevalence of cholera and other water-borne illnesses.
The impacts of war on health are strongly gendered. While men are traditionally more likely to die or become injured in battle, women are more likely to be left to face the lasting consequences of conflict on health.
Children’s health is strongly linked with maternal health. Children born during conflict are at a higher risk of being of a low birth weight, which is associated with an increased risk of infant mortality, poorer health in later life, and childhood developmental problems. Additionally, vaccination programs are limited during times of armed conflict. This can significantly increase a child’s chances of contracting what are now largely preventable diseases.
Finally, many studies have shown that war harms the mental health of both those involved in the conflict and civilians. People who live through war face psychologically challenging situations, often being uprooted from their homes, facing food insecurity, and constant fear of death and injury to name a few. This inevitably causes damage to a person’s psychological well-being and can exacerbate existing problems.
Our mission and values as a global alliance are to bring people together to advance health and well-being beyond borders, to inspire each other and to progress together. It is for these reasons that we firmly believe in unity and dialogue.
Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery 