Global Oral Health » War And Armed Conflicts Are Public Health Emergencies

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...002817723002635

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War And Armed Conflicts Are Public Health Emergencies

War and armed conflicts are forms of political violence that lead to devastating syndemic effects involving human and animal lives, economies, and the environment.3 They are also major public health emergencies.4 The risk of serious injury or death from direct assaults forces people to evacuate to shelters or flee conflict zones and seek refuge in safer areas, both within and outside their home countries. More than 7.8 million people have fled Ukraine, and more than 6.5 million are estimated to
Impact On Health And Health Care

In all of these situations, health and health care are particularly challenged, including oral health. The focus of available oral health care services is naturally on emergency, trauma, and injury care, but lack of basic resources such as electricity, water, or medical supplies may hinder provision. Consequently, health care services offered may be limited or completely shut down, so that access to even essential services is seriously hampered. In addition, health care workers may be unable to
Oral Health Care Is Part Of Military Health Care

Oral health care professionals play a crucial role in military health care systems; the FDI World Dental Federation maintains a Section on Defense Forces Dental Services that provides a global forum for exchange.15 Good oral health is important for deployment readiness and for preventing dental emergencies during service.16 In many countries and for many recruits, military dental services are an important provider of oral health care. To ensure that the oral health care needs of new recruits
Public Health Promoting Peace: Peace Promoting Public Health

In today’s interconnected world, wars and armed conflicts pose not only a humanitarian threat but also a global health threat. Conflicts have the potential to spread diseases; disrupt health care systems and preventive public health measures, such as vaccination programs; and exacerbate existing health disparities. As an example, several European countries have reported an increase in cases of antimicrobial resistance, and health authorities have established a clear link to the war in Ukraine.20

Dr. Benzian is a research professor, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion and a codirector, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Quality-improvement and Evidence-based Dentistry, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, and a research fellow, Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.