On Public Health and the Military

<div><p class="Els-history-head">Threats to the security of the Republic of Indonesia are classified as military and non-military threats. One of the non-military threats is the danger of an epidemic, which includes a threat with a public safety dimension. The growth of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) cases has been very fast. As of August 4, 2020, globally 18.14 million cases were confirmed worldwide with 691,013 deaths or a Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) of 3.8%. The 2019-nCoV Outbreak became a COVID-19 pandemic which has an impact on public health and the world economy. ASEAN Plus member countries are deploying militaries to help contain the spread and control the effects of this pandemic. The military is deployed because it is considered a trained resource and is better prepared to deal with emergencies. The purpose of this study is to analyse the joint action of the regional military in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study uses an explanative qualitative method using NVivo as a data processing tool and data analysis using Soft System Methodology (SSM). The results of this study found that the joint regional military actions that have been carried out to stem the spread of COVID-19 are dominated by activities carried out by the ASEAN Center of Military Medicine (ACMM) as the leading sector, activities that have been carried out are the exchange of information and sharing practical activities in managing COVID-19, holding a Tabletop Exercise (TTX) for public health emergency response, joint research and sharing health materials among ASEAN Plus member countries. Meanwhile, the ASEAN Plus network of biological and radiological defense experts has yet to show specific activities to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.</p></div>

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A Hidden Corner of the “One Health” Concept: One Health, the Military Veterinarian, and Education

Academic and Applied Research in Military and Public ◽

10.32565/aarms.2016.2.2 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 107-120

Author(s):

Andrea Győrffy ◽

Ákos Jozwiak

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Veterinary Medicine ◽

National Security ◽

One Health ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Veterinary Services ◽

Health Concept ◽

The One ◽

The Military ◽

Over Time

Public health belongs to the “One Health” umbrella. As military veterinary medicine evolved, it became embedded in national security. Many armed forces still have active veterinary services, both regular and reserve components. The military veterinarian can serve as an interface between civilians and civil organizations, can handle complex and interdisciplinary cases. Introducing the “One Health” concept both in practice and education has encountered many difficulties. Over time, “One Health” has been judged to be a “buzz word” in civilian areas; however, it is a weighty concept. Its importance is pronounced in military areas where practicing along One Health principles were present before the appearance of the term itself. Nevertheless, military “One Health” has not penetrated into the overwhelming “One Health” literature. Emphasizing the military aspects of One Health not only reveals an obscure corner but might help to regain the proper importance of the “One Health” concept.

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Election dispute belies Togo's deeper stability risks

Emerald Expert Briefings ◽

10.1108/oxan-db199306 ◽

2015 ◽

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Child Mortality ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

West African ◽

The Political ◽

The West ◽

Content Type ◽

Franc Zone ◽

The Military ◽

Democratic Norms

Subject The political outlook in Togo. Significance On April 28, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) announced that President Faure Gnassingbe had won re-election in the presidential ballot held on April 25, with 58.75% of the vote. His controversial third term will extend his family's rule to nearly 50 years. Opposition candidate Jean-Pierre Fabre secured 34.95% of the vote. His Combat for Political Change (CAP) alliance rejects the result. Impacts Western donors' effectiveness at pushing for democratic norms will wane as Togo, like other African states, accesses new debt sources. Togo's membership of the West African CFA franc zone, which is backed by the French treasury, will ensure currency stability. A Burkina Faso-style ouster of Gnassingbe is unlikely, for now -- he enjoys the support of the military who first installed him. Despite being spared the Ebola crisis, standards of public health will remain poor, with child mortality rates far above global averages.

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Lethal Means Counseling, Distribution of Cable Locks, and Safe Firearm Storage Practices Among the Mississippi National Guard: A Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial, 2018–2020

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.2020.306019 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. e1-e9

Author(s):

Michael D. Anestis ◽

Craig J. Bryan ◽

Daniel W. Capron ◽

AnnaBelle O. Bryan

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

National Guard ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Point Of Entry ◽

Storage Methods ◽

The Military ◽

Lethal Means

Objectives. To examine whether lethal means counseling and provision of cable locks prompt safe firearm storage relative to control among firearm-owning members of the Mississippi National Guard. Methods. This randomized controlled trial utilized a 2 × 2 factorial design (lethal means counseling vs control, provision of cable locks vs no cable locks). Follow-up assessments took place at 3 and 6 months after baseline. Data were collected (n = 232; 87.5% male; mean age = 35.01 years; 77.2% White) from February 2018 through July 2020. Results. Relative to control, lethal means counseling and provision of cable locks resulted in greater adoption of several safe storage methods over time. Lethal means counseling outperformed control (3 months: 55.0% vs 39.0%; odds ratio [OR] = 1.91). Cable locks outperformed control at 3 and 6 months on number of storage methods (1.41 vs 1.11; d = 0.29 and 1.34 vs 1.16; d = 0.15, respectively) and locking devices (59.8% vs 29.9%; OR = 3.49 and 58.4% vs 35.8%; OR = 2.52, respectively) Conclusions. Lethal means counseling and cable locks can result in sustained changes in firearm storage. Public Health Implications. The military may benefit from lethal means counseling, perhaps administering at point of entry. Trial Registration. Clinical Trials.gov identifier: NCT03375099. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print December 22, 2020: e1–e9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.306019 )

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THE MILITARY BASIS OF COLONIAL PUBLIC HEALTH

Colonial Pathologies ◽

10.2307/j.ctv1168b5f.8 ◽

2006 ◽

pp. 45-73

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Military Basis ◽

The Military

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Harm

Liars ◽

10.1093/oso/9780197545119.003.0008 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 106-130

Author(s):

Cass R. Sunstein

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Criminal Justice System ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Public Officials ◽

False Statement ◽

Tax System ◽

The Military ◽

Modern Era ◽

Public Health And Safety

A false statement might create risks to public health and safety. It might endanger the operation of the criminal justice system. It might make it difficult to run the tax system. How far should lawmakers and regulators, concerned about truth, go beyond libel? In the modern era, a pervasive concern is the dissemination of falsehoods about actual or potential public officials. Importantly, they might be positive, as, for example, in a statement that a particular candidate served with great distinction in the military, competed in the Olympics, performed heroic actions, or invented some technology. It is important here to focus on the question of harm; if the harm is great enough, regulation should be acceptable. Public officials should have considerable power to regulate deepfakes and doctored videos. They are also entitled to act to protect public health and safety, certainly in the context of lies, and if innocent falsehoods create sufficiently serious risks, to control such falsehoods as well.

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Quando e como uma doença desaparece. A varíola e sua erradicação no Brasil, 1966/1973 / When and how a disease disappears. Smallpox and its eradication in Brazil, 1966/1973

Revista Brasileira de Sociologia - RBS ◽

10.20336/rbs.787 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (21) ◽

pp. 103-128

Author(s):

Gilberto Hochman

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

International Organizations ◽

Military Regime ◽

The Political ◽

Military Government ◽

Secondary Sources ◽

The Third ◽

Local Contexts ◽

Health Dynamics ◽

The Military

Este artigo aborda o programa de erradicação da varíola no Brasil (1966-1973), para analisar o fim de doenças e epidemias em contextos locais. O foco recai sobre os antecedentes de um marco específico e crucial desse processo: o anúncio oficial de seu desaparecimento em agosto de 1973 em pleno regime militar. O objetivo do artigo é compreender como as dimensões políticas, científicas e sanitárias se entrecruzaram na pouca repercussão de uma conquista da saúde pública que mobilizou recursos, governos, população e organizações internacionais. O artigo, baseado em fontes primárias e secundárias, está dividido em quatro partes. A primeira discute as questões gerais relativas ao fim de epidemias e desaparecimento de doenças em contextos locais. A segunda apresenta a dinâmica política e sanitária e as características da campanha de erradicação da varíola entre 1966 e 1980, em suas faces internacional e nacional. A terceira discute os desafios, as desconfianças e as incertezas que envolveram a determinação de que a varíola estava eliminada no Brasil do regime militar entre os anos de 1970 e 1973. Na conclusão, retoma-se a questão do término de epidemias e doenças em contextos históricos e nacionais à luz da erradicação da varíola.Palavras-chave: varíola, governo militar, saúde pública, doença, epidemias. ***This article discusses the smallpox eradication program in Brazil (1966-1973) to analyze the end of diseases and epidemics in local contexts. The focus is on the background of a specific and crucial milestone in this process: the official announcement of its disappearance in August 1973 in the midst of the military regime. The objective of the article is to understand how the political, scientific and health dimensions intertwined in the little repercussion of a public health achievement that mobilized resources, governments, populations, and international organizations. The article, based on primary and secondary sources, is divided into four parts. The first discusses general issues related to the end of epidemics and the disappearance of diseases in local contexts. The second presents the political and health dynamics, and the smallpox eradication campaign’s characteristics between 1966 and 1980, in its international and national aspects. The third discusses the challenges, suspicions, and uncertainties that involved the determination that smallpox was eliminated in Brazil, during the military regime, between 1970 and 1973. In the conclusion, ending epidemics and diseases in historical and national contexts is taken up in the light of the eradication of smallpox.Keywords: smallpox, military government, public health, diseases, epidemics.

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Assessing Cross-Sectoral and Cross-Jurisdictional Coordination for Public Health Emergency Legal Preparedness

The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics ◽

10.1111/j.1748-720x.2008.00258.x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 36 (S1) ◽

pp. 36-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Rick Hogan ◽

Cheryl H. Bullard ◽

Daniel Stier ◽

Matthew S. Penn ◽

Teresa Wall ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Law Enforcement ◽

International Organizations ◽

Private Health Care ◽

Public And Private ◽

Public Health Emergencies ◽

Legal Responses ◽

Health Threats ◽

Multiple Levels ◽

The Military

A community's abilities to promote health and maximize its response to public health threats require fulfillment of one of the four elements of public health legal preparedness, the capacity to effectively coordinate law-based efforts across different governmental jurisdictions, as well as across multiple sectors and disciplines. Government jurisdictions can be viewed “vertically” in that response efforts may entail coordination in the application of laws across multiple levels, including local, state, tribal, and federal governments, and even with international organizations. Coordination of legal responses to public health emergencies also may involve a horizontal dimension comprising numerous and diverse sectors, such as public health, public and private health care, emergency management, education, law enforcement, the judiciary, and the military.Although responses to many acute health threats can implicate multiple jurisdictions and sectors, the jurisdictional and sectoral dimensions of legal preparedness are complex and may vary substantially by the nature of a threat, its geographic and geopolitical extent, and the operational response demanded.

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The Opioid Epidemic: Challenge to Military Medicine and National Security

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usz487 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 185 (5-6) ◽

pp. e662-e667 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Zygmunt F Dembek ◽

Tesema Chekol ◽

Aiguo Wu

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

National Security ◽

Opioid Addiction ◽

Opioid Misuse ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Synthetic Opioids ◽

Opioid Crisis ◽

Military Veteran ◽

The Military

Abstract Introduction We examine the current status of the military relevance of opioids, their use and misuse in military and veteran populations, the national security consequences of opioid use in our military age population, public health implications, and military, veteran, and government solutions for opioid addiction. Materials and Methods A literature search of recent published research, federal government, and related open source materials was conducted using PubMed, Google, and Google Scholar, and all materials retrieved were manually identified, screened, and evaluated for inclusion. A modified Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach was used for the selection of relevant articles. Heath policy literature and relevant demographic information published within the last 5 years was also included to provide current information and search for solutions to address the escalating national opioid crisis. Results Synthetic opioids are used for pain and trauma management, not readily substituted, and have exceptionally high addiction potential. Combat wounded veterans have greater potential for opioid misuse than civilian populations. Assessment, management, and treatment of opioid use in this population are essential. Veterans receiving synthetic opioids have been noted to have multiple overdose risk factors. Opioids are readily available nationally as “street drugs” and also in the form of fentanyl-contaminated heroin. The opioid crisis affects the military age population and the top states for military enlistments. Younger age males with lower education and income are at significant risk for opioid use disorder. Recently increased drug overdose deaths contribute to an increased U.S. mortality rate with a commensurate decline in life expectancy at birth. Opioid abuse contributes to increased incidence of infectious disease. Behavioral health programs directed at military and veterans to identify risk factors for opioid misuse have been introduced. Prescription drug monitoring initiatives continue for these populations with increased information exchanged between military and civilian healthcare. Lifesaving interventions for opioid addiction include methadone maintenance and fentanyl test strip accessibility. Newly implemented federal funding healthcare initiatives to the states are now directed at opioid use prevention and enhanced surveillance. Conclusions Given increasing rates of opioid addiction and death, viable solutions are universally needed. Successful intervention measures should be widely shared between military, veteran, and civilian healthcare and public health communities. Increased collaboration between these groups could inculcate successful programs to prevent and decrease opioid use. Results received from recent military and veterans’ programs for prescription and electronic medical record (EMR) monitoring and data sharing may also prove useful for civilian healthcare providers and hospital systems. Future evaluations from ongoing federally funded programs to the states for addiction surveillance and intervention may help create measures to address the proliferation of opioid addiction with increased death rates. Anticipated results from these federal efforts should help inform opioid programs in military and veterans’ health systems.

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