Conflict, peace and health

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Conflict affects health (and vice-versa)

Conflicts disrupt health systems. They not only overwhelm health-facilities with wounds and injuries, they also disrupt supply chain of medical supplies. Further, health-care workers, who now fear for their lives, themselves migrate or are unable to report for work. Thus, peace is first requisite for an effective health system. Societies that are not living in peace have more illnesses, and suffer more deaths – that could have been ordinarily prevented.

On the other hand, discrimination and neglect of a section of society, both in terms of health and education, fuels conflict. Such conflicts, lead to mental angst and also limit trust in health systems. Further, it affects both availability of and accessibility to health systems. Sections of society, that remain deprived, could violently erupt and lead to a new conflict. Thus, violence causes more deaths, both as a direct as well as an indirect effect. Deprivation leads to a poor health system, and often leads to violence.

We all hope for peace, as it is a pre-requisite for an effective health system
Two agencies one for peace and another for health

United Nations was created in 1945, to maintain peace. Soon after, in 1948 we established World Health organisation, to maintain health. Both these organisations, borne out of world wars, have had overlapping roles.

After First World War, Europe was devastated. Countries wanted to prevent a Second World War. In 1920 victorious nations formed League of Nations. This organisation could not prevent conflict, and only a twenty years later, in 1939 we had a Second World War. Second World War was even more devastating, and much larger in its scope.

While Second World War was nearing its end, Germany was close to surrender, and a horrific Nuclear Bomb was dropped over Japan, nations gathered once again to form a better forum for world peace. This was Genesis of United Nations, formed on 24th October 1945, in New York. Thus United Nations (UN) became an agency for peace. UN has completed 75 years of its peacemaking efforts in the year 2020. Please see anniversary postage stamps on United Nations (UN) in the following slideshow:

Universal declaration of Human rights

As UN was taking shape, and victorious armies were returning home – we were coming to terms with a worst form of human discrimination. These were concentration camps, formed in Germany and its occupied territories with a sole purpose of exterminating Jews. Horror of holocaust, prompted UN to do more. In 1946, UN formed a commission on human rights. Chaired by Elanor Roosevelt (a former First Lady of US), the committee formulated Universal declaration of human rights. This declaration, ratified by all member countries of UN, calls for equal rights to all human beings, irrespective of race, gender, religion or nationality. Declaration of human rights was ratified by the UN general assembly on 10th December 1948.

Please see the following stamps, and changes in human rights logo. Prior to 1968, there is no logo, but a flame and torch used in a cancellation from India, and . a flame is used in stamps from Ghana. In 1968, a logo with a two-forked flame, and two olive branches flank it. Later, in 1998, the flame has five-forks. indicating a hand. Current logo (finalised in 2010) is also five-forked, and represents a hand. Its first two forks are fashioned so as to indicate a dove.

A first. day cover from India (1963), on 15 years of Universal declaration of human rights
Postage stamps from Ghana (1963) on 15 years and from Saint Lucia (1998) on 50 years of Universal declaration of Human rights.
Postage stamps with First day covers from Botswana (1968), Ireland (1968), Dominica (1968) and Chile (1968) on 20 years of declaration. The year 1968 was also observed as an international human rights year. Postage stamps from France (1975 and 1978) on 25 and 30 years of Universal declaration.
UN peace keeping missions

Mere formation of United Nations, and adoption of Universal declaration of human rights, does not mitigate all conflicts. Instead, this platform and belief in basic human rights, is a mechanism for conflict resolution. Pathway from a conflict to peace is complex, and there is a need to have an oasis to rebuild trust as well as infrastructure. This is often achieved by UN peace-keeping missions. There have been numerous such missions in last 75 years, mostly in Africa and Asia. Armed forces from participating nations, including India have contributed to these missions.

Promise for Peace

All of us want peace, yet there are wars and conflicts. Many individuals, agencies and nations, have championed this cause. Between 1901 and 2022, there were a total of 140 individuals or agencies, that have been awarded Nobel Peace prizes. Many of these are celebrated in postage stamp series.

Nobel Peace Prize series, Norway
Nobel peace prize miniature sheet, Comoros Islands
In 1955, admits cold war, many Asian and African Countries met to discuss peace in Bandung, Indonesia. Bandung conference, later gave rise to the non-aligned movement. Postage stamps from Indonesia, on 50 years of Asia-Africa meet, held at Bandung.
Miniature sheets on Peace and its promise – Tonga and Palau
Nuclear non-proliferation (postage stamps from United Nations, and Hungary) and Peaceful outer space (postage stamps from United Nations) are two successful peace initiatives of the United Nations.

Regardless of glory of Nobel Peace Prize, many champions of Peace and Non-Violence were never awarded. A glaring example is Mahatma Gandhi, who championed non-violence in Indian and South African freedom movements. His Birthday, 2nd October is now recognised as an International day of non-violence. UN observes this day, beginning 2007, as a tribute to a person who preached as well as practiced peace till his last breath.

12 comments

  3. Avoiding Conflicts give mental peace ,Health ,importance of education & NON VIOLENCE develop societies & nations
    United Nations & WHO GREAT CONTIBUTION.

  4. There’s should be any compromise about the things without any conflicts through out the world and peace’be maintained in strict orders. Thanks Sir

  8. HELLO SIR
    The content is well-researched and includes a variety of stamps from different countries, providing an international perspective on the topic. The blog post is also well-organized, with clear headings and subheadings that help to guide the reader through the content.

    The writing style is engaging and easy to follow, with a good balance of technical information and accessible language.enthusiasm for the topic shines through, making the post an enjoyable read.

    The visuals are also a highlight of the blog post. the high-quality images of the stamps discussed, which not only add to the aesthetic appeal of the post, but also help to illustrate the history and evolution of medical imaging.

    Overall, the blog post on healthinstamps.com is well-written, well-researched, and visually engaging. It would be of interest to anyone interested in medical imaging, stamp collecting,

  11. Health is usually not emphasised when we speak of conflict , violence and strife.The blog makes this significant connect between health and absence of conflict/peace which opens a new dimension on the issue.

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