Promoting Arab and Israeli cooperation: peacebuilding through health initiatives.
This article describes a positive experience in building Arab and Israeli cooperation through health initiatives. Over the past 10 years Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian health professionals have worked together through the Canada International Scientific Exchange Program (CISEPO). In the initial project, nearly 17,000 Arab and Israeli newborn babies were tested for early detection of hearing loss, an important health issue for the region. The network has grown to address additional needs, including mother-child health, nutrition, infectious diseases, and youth health. Our guiding model emphasises two goals: project-specific outcomes in health improvement, and broader effects on cross-border cooperation. Lessons learned from this experience and the model provide direction for ways that health professionals can contribute to peacebuilding.
Skinner
Harvey
H
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. harvey.skinner@utoronto.ca
Abdeen
Ziad
Z
Abdeen
Hani
H
Aber
Phil
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Al-Masri
Mohammad
M
Attias
Joseph
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Avraham
Karen B
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Carmi
Rivka
R
Chalin
Catherine
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El Nasser
Ziad
Z
Hijazi
Manaf
M
Jebara
Rema Othman
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Kanaan
Moien
M
Pratt
Hillel
H
Raad
Firas
F
Roth
Yehudah
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Williams
A Paul
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Noyek
Arnold
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D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D006296:Health Services; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007391:International Cooperation; D007557:Israel; D007597:Jordan; D008877:Middle East; D012106:Research; D014857:Warfare