This week, the Canadian Red Cross and the ICRC are hosting a workshop bringing together experts to identify recommendations to ensure the safety of health facilities in times of conflict. As such, we’ll be posting a blog post every day this week to help raise awareness about the need for healthcare workers to be protected in emergencies.
Ambulances, hospitals and medical personnel have been under threat or the target of violence in countries such as Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan, and in other parts of the world affected by conflict or emergencies. When healthcare workers are in danger, the impact is also felt by those who need access to health care.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), this is one of the most crucial yet overlooked humanitarian issues today. The Red Cross has launched the Health Care in Danger campaign to raise awareness on these issues and find solutions.
This week, the Canadian Red Cross and the ICRC are hosting a workshop for experts, including the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières and the Canadian Medical Association, to discuss these challenges. The public is invited to a panel discussion on Health Care in Danger in Ottawa on Friday, September 27 at Ottawa University. The event will also be streamed live.
We also wanted to share this video which highlights the human costs of the health care system being targeted in conflicts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr3eknFzhWs