War & Health

Today, the Combined Arms Center’s Inter Agency Symposium is taking place. The purpose of the gathering is admirable and ambitious:

It has become apparent that success in Twenty-first Century Warfare requires a “whole of government” or unified approach. The nation must utilize all elements of National Power to ensure victory in this era of persistent conflict. Over the next two days, members from across our government will meet to discuss these issues. It promises to be an insightful and spirited debate which will create a clearer picture for the way ahead as we conduct complex stability and support operations.

The symposium is being liveblogged and yesterday they solicited questions through the internet for the panel to answer. Able to see an opportunity when presented to me on a silver platter, I submitted the following question:

Following the notion of a “whole of government” approach, what role does the provision of health services play in ensuring victory in future conflicts?

Very kindly, panelist Dr. Stephen Redd, Naval Officer and Director of Pandemic Influenza Surveillance Unit, responded:

Providing healthcare is very important in all operations including stability operations. By caring for the health of the populance, a government shows it is responsive to the basic needs of its people. In addition, the provision of healthcare gives people confidence in their government. Most stability operations take place in states that are weak or failing. One definition of a failing state is its inability to provide for the needs of its people. Hence, by providing healthcare, a state begins to strengthen and demonstrate its ability to reverse some of the trends that led it to become a weak or failed state in the first place.

Dr. Redd’s response is excellent and demonstrates a firm understanding of the dynamics between health services and political stability. I agree whole heartedly. To win hearts and minds, governments must prove themselves as legitimate institutions. The provision of health services is a key opportunity to gain that legitimacy in a value-added, cost-effective manner. Hopefully, through more discussions like the CAC’s IA symposium, health services will take a more prominent role in future stability operations.