title: Increasing security through public health: a practical model.
abstract: As political and social changes sweep the globe, there are opportunities to increase national security through innovative approaches. While traditional security methods such as defense forces and homeland security provide both pre-emptive and defensive protection, new methods could meet emerging challenges by responding to the political, financial, and social trends. One method is the integration of defense, medicine and public health. By assisting a nation by providing basic services, such as healthcare, collaborative efforts can increase stabilization in areas of unrest. Improved health outcomes leads to increased domestic security, which can create a ripple effect across a region. Assessment, uptake and sustainability by the host nation are critical for program success. The proposed methodology focuses on the use of primarily extant resources, such as programs used by Special Operations Forces and other health and defense programs. Additional components include evaluation, set objectives and mission collaborations. As the nexus between foreign affairs, security, and public health is increasingly validated through research and practice, standardized interventions should be developed to minimize overlapping expenditures, promote security and strengthen international relations.
authors: R David
authors: RD
authors: Parker
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies; D007391:International Cooperation; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011634:Public Health; D012637:Security Measures / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States