Lack of access to essential health services is one of the biggest challenges for people living in emergency settings. Limited freedom of movement due to insecurity, disrupted medical supplies and shortages of medical personnel make humanitarian response in such areas especially challenging. Despite this, humanitarian workers keep providing life-saving services, taking care of the sick, preventing diseases and promoting healthy lifestyles.
World Humanitarian Day is dedicated to recognizing the work of humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes. This year, WHO highlights the special contribution of women humanitarians and their tireless work to bring health and hope to those living in conflict.
“Women working within communities bring their knowledge and skills closer to people in need. Recognizing the vital contribution of all those who make up the community-based health workforce is essential for better local and national emergency preparedness. These women, unsung heroes, deserve to be celebrated,” says Dorit Nitzan, Acting Regional Emergency Director at WHO/Europe.
In protracted emergencies, such as the ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises in the Syrian Arab Republic and eastern Ukraine, as well as the refugee health response in Turkey, community-based health-care services ensure that essential help reaches those most in need. However, despite the predominant participation of women in community health-care delivery, their participation as frontline responders is not always recognized.
Original source: WHO
Published on 16 August 2019
