Public Health in Conflict – Lessons the Field in Karen State, Myanmar

In regions affected by armed conflict, the connection between violence and poor health outcomes is often discussed. Yet while many stakeholders recognize the urgency of addressing healthcare needs in these settings, the full complexity of those needs—and how to respond effectively—is often less understood.

In this webinar, we’ll explore the intersection of health and conflict through the lens of firsthand experience working in the rural health system in Karen State, Myanmar. Using stakeholder mapping as a guiding tool, we’ll examine the practical challenges of delivering healthcare in one of the most remote and under-resourced areas of the world. In such settings, trust and coordination aren’t just helpful—they are essential to expanding access and ensuring the safety and well-being of civilian populations.

Participants will gain insight into the day-to-day realities of health system development in conflict zones, including logistical constraints, political sensitivities, and the complexities of working across cultural and organizational boundaries. The session will also offer frameworks for thinking about health as a stabilizing force in fragile settings, and how these lessons might inform work in other complex environments.