PHA-Exchange> NEW PUBLIC HEALTH MAGAZINE BY ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN HEALTH PROF ESSIONALS ADDRESSES THE HEALTH SITUATION IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP

[Claudio]

From: "Vern Weitzel" <vern.weitzel at undp.org>
> > *NEW PUBLIC HEALTH MAGAZINE BY ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN HEALTH
> > PROFESSIONALS ADDRESSES THE HEALTH SITUATION IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA
> > STRIP
> > *
> > *Geneva* - Israeli and Palestinian health professionals-supported by
> > the World Health Organization (WHO)-have joined together to co-author/
> > Bridges - the Israeli-Palestinian Public Health Magazine/ - in order
> > to help improve the health situation for people in West Bank and Gaza
> > Strip.
> >
> > /Bridges/, a bimonthly, is a unique publication written, edited,
> > produced and managed jointly by Palestinian and Israeli academics and
> > health professionals under the sponsorship of the WHO. The magazine
> > exemplifies the WHO paradigm of "Health as a bridge for peace" - the
> > integration of peace-building concerns, strategies and practices with
> > health care - and represents an innovative approach to the planning
> > and implementation of joint projects, sponsored by a professional and
> > impartial body.
> >
> > WHO has launched this innovative tool to bring together Palestinian
> > and Israeli health professionals to address pressing health concerns
> > faced by the people in the region./ Bridges-the Israeli-Palestinian
> > Public Health Magazine/ embodies the exchange of public health
> > information of interest to both Israeli and Palestinian societies, and
> > establishes links between the two communities.
> >
> > The magazine covers public health topics of importance to both
> > populations; seeks to analyze the impact of the conflict on the health
> > and well being of both societies; provides a forum where locally
> > significant research, programmes, activities and cooperative ventures
> > can be published and made available; and disseminates international
> > health policy and strategic information of particular importance to
> > the local regional context, including WHO recommendations and
guidelines.
> >
> > The magazine will also focus on the areas in which WHO is most
> > intensely involved in the region, such as emergency, health
> > information, nutrition, mental health, food safety, and drugs.
> >
> > Guiding principles include:
> > *       A balance between the presentation of the negative impact of
> > the conflict on both sides and the positive cooperative efforts that
> > are taking place;
> >
> > *       A focus not only on scientific, health issues but also
> > dialogue/peace, right to health, women's and children's rights, and
> > social determinants of health;
> >
> > *       A particular relevance to the daily life on both sides;
> > *       An emphasis on the human story, by personalizing the major
> > challenges for public health on the Palestinian side and, on the other
> > hand, highlighting cooperative ventures.
> >
> > *First issue of Bridges, hosted on the HealthInForum Web site:*
> > _http://www.healthinforum.net/files/who/bridges.pdf_
> > Note: The views expressed in the magazine do not reflect those of WHO >
> or the Editorial Board, but are solely those of each article's author.