War: A Devastating Enemy of Public Health

War is the ugliest face of life, a grim reality that has shadowed civilisation since its earliest days. It stands as a stark reminder of the darker forces that have shaped our existence, touching every corner of the world in ways that spare no one. Its impact may vary from place to place, but its reach is universal, and its weight is felt by all.

The consequences of war seep into every aspect of life, both instantly and over generations. From the moment conflict begins, its presence is unmistakable, and its effects linger long after the final shot is fired. In its aftermath, war leaves scars etched into the land and the built environment, destroying what once felt permanent.

It devastates entire populations and brings with it a host of appalling, often life-altering consequences for public health, consequences that can echo long into the future.

Public Health

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), public health is:

“All organized measures (whether public or private) to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong life among the population as a whole".

The National Academy of Medicine states that the aim of public health is:

"Fulfilling society’s interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy".

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) states that public health is simply:

"Helping people to stay healthy and protecting them from threats to their health".

War Effects on Public Health

In contrast to the goals of public health, war creates conditions in which people cannot possibly be healthy. Instead, they are forced to live with the constant threat of death, injury, and profound disruption to their daily lives.

Armed conflict has a complex and far reaching impact on the health of populations. Below is a list of the main ways in which war can affect public health:

Physical Health

The physical toll of war is devastating. Lives are lost, and many are left with injuries or long-term disabilities. Disease often spreads quickly in these unstable conditions. At the same time, essentials such as clean water, reliable food supplies, and basic hygiene become difficult, and sometimes impossible, to access.

As a result, malnutrition and dehydration become common, leaving people even more vulnerable to a range of infectious and non infectious diseases. Access to healthcare also becomes severely limited, adding yet another layer of hardship for those already facing unimaginable challenges.

Mental Health

War leaves deep and lasting scars on mental health, affecting both the immediate and long-term wellbeing of those caught in its path. The relentless violence, the loss of loved ones, shattered livelihoods, constant displacement, and the absence of adequate emotional or mental health support can inflict profound psychological trauma.

Conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and psychosomatic disorders, among others, are common among those affected. According to WHO, serious mental health conditions arise in roughly 10% of individuals impacted by war, with another 10% struggling to function effectively in daily life. Tragically, the shadow of these experiences often stretches far beyond the battlefield, lingering long after the guns have fallen silent.

Social Turmoil

War unleashes profound disruption, shaking the very foundations of society. It forces people from their homes, tears apart families and entire communities, and shatters the social and health services that sustain daily life. Deprivation of essential needs follows, leaving public health in tatters and exacting a heavy toll on overall wellbeing.

Impact on Children

Children are among the most vulnerable victims in any armed conflict. The brutality of war leaves deep and lasting scars, shaping not only their childhoods but often echoing throughout their adult lives.

Exposure to violence, constant displacement, malnutrition, and the loss of access to education and healthcare can inflict profound physical and emotional trauma. These hardships do more than disrupt daily life; they can alter the very trajectory of a child’s future, leaving an imprint that likely lasts a lifetime.

Impact on the Environment

War leaves a deep and lasting scar on the environment, with consequences that ripple through communities long after the fighting ends. Toxic remnants of conflict can poison soil and water, devastate crops, and destroy vital environmental infrastructure. These disruptions not only harm ecosystems but also pose serious, long-term risks to public health, affecting generations to come.

Protecting Health in Crisis

In war, there are no winners. Every side bears the heavy toll of its horrors, as conflict spreads suffering, misery, and devastation. War is public health’s greatest adversary because it strikes at the heart of its three core principles: health promotion, disease prevention, and health protection; leaving in its wake destruction, disease, and the loss of countless lives.

Although preventing a war from erupting may often feel beyond reach, public health still holds the power to soften its harshest consequences, particularly in regions where conflict is all too common. Public health organisations can advocate for policies that aim to reduce the health impacts of war and prevent them from escalating into a full-blown public health crisis.

Through education, persistent action, and carefully planned prevention strategies, the negative health effects of war can be anticipated, enabling communities to be better prepared and respond more effectively when conflict does occur.

Some may see these measures as modest in the face of war’s overwhelming complexity, but they are meaningful steps; small yet vital strides toward a safer, healthier world.