Bridging Health and Peace: WHA side event

Bridging Health and Peace: Accelerating the Global Health and Peace Initiative (GHPI) in Turbulent Times

Uniting global health leaders to advance peace through primary care and courageous advocacy in conflict settings.

Co-organized by the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), and Member State partners, including Brazil, Slovenia, and Spain, this timely side event convenes policymakers, practitioners, and frontline health workers to explore the vital intersection of health and peace.

Grounded in the principle championed by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, “No health without peace, no peace without health,” the discussion will highlight the role of primary care as a bridge between communities and health systems, as well as the critical contributions of nurses, community health workers, and public health professionals in conflict-affected settings.

This session will also examine the responsibilities and risks faced by health professionals as advocates, particularly in politically constrained environments, and foster stronger alignment between public health and primary care. Finally, it will offer a candid reflection on the Global Health for Peace Initiative (GHPI), assessing progress, challenges, and opportunities to accelerate implementation across diverse conflict contexts.

Health and peace are deeply interconnected. As emphasized by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, there can be “no health without peace, and no peace without health.” Approximately 110 armed conflicts are currently underway worldwide. This event will explore how health systems, and those who sustain them, can serve as bridges for peace.

The session will highlight:

• The role of primary care physicians as trusted communicators between health systems and communities
• The essential contributions of nurses, community health workers, and public health professionals delivering care in conflict settings
• The responsibility and risks faced by health professionals advocating for health and human rights
• Opportunities to strengthen collaboration between public health and primary care
• A candid reflection on the progress and challenges of the Global Health for Peace Initiative (GHPI)

This event will bring together key stakeholders to foster dialogue, share experiences, and identify pathways to strengthen health systems as instruments of peace.

Should you have any questions, please contact secretariat@wonca.com.