Mmegi

Public health diplomacy vital for global security

In war-torn regions of the world, usually healthcare is one of the first to be affected, leading to terrible consequences for affected populations.

Disease outbreaks spread very fast when medical facilities of the country are destroyed, and displaced communities struggle with non-existent access to clean water and sanitation. Without proper healthcare infrastructure, even treatable diseases become a challenge, making public health crises unavoidable.

Conflicts destroys the very foundation of healthcare, tears down hospitals, cutting off supply chains, and crowd out trained medical personnel. Outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, tuberculosis, and polio become uncontrolled, affecting not just war-torn nations but also neighbouring countries. Refugee camps are often overcrowded and lacking essential hygiene, becoming breeding grounds for epidemics. Humanitarian organisations like WHO, the Red Cross, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) play an important role in responding to these crises, yet their work is frequently hampered by security threats, political obstructions, and logistical hurdles.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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