Let's raise our hands for health workers on the frontline of conflict

Monday 16 May 2011

This May Merlin’s campaign team will be at the World Health Assembly alongside Merlin campaign ambassador Miatta, a health worker from Liberia.

Miatta will speak at an event where Merlin is a contributor, calling for better protection of health workers caught up in conflict – increasingly the targets in the fight to secure territory, resources and power.

Speaking from experience

Health workers around the world feel unsafe, fearful and vulnerable as more and more they experience sexual violence, robbery and displacement on a daily basis.

Having worked in some of the most dangerous places in the world – Liberia, DR Congo and south Darfur, Sudan Miatta knows all too well how health workers on the frontline feel;

“At times I’ve felt very vulnerable. After NGOs were expelled from Darfur, it was hard to go back, there was a real sense of fear. Insecurity is a big challenge – knowing that something can happen at any time.”

We are not super heroes

Health workers save lives, and play a vital role for populations caught up in conflict. We need to protect and support them;

“Health workers are supposed to be able to manage and not be affected by what we see. People expect us to be strong, so we force ourselves to cope. We need much more psychological support and we need to be taken care of. We should not be seen as super heroes.”

Act Now

Join us in lobbying the World Health Organisation to ensure international conventions are upheld and health workers are better protected during conflict. Please raise your hand today!