Re: Russia invades Ukraine again: how can the health community respond?Health professionals and military expenditure
Dear Editor,
I agree with the authors re the threat to public health from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, I cannot agree with the suggestion that as health professionals, we should support an increase in military expenditure. Global military expenditure was estimated as $1981 billion in 2020 by the Stockholm Institute of Peace Research, an increase of 2.6% from 2019 [1]. That is equivalent to $250 for every individual on the planet. The UK increased its military expenditure by 2.9% in 2020 and is planning to renew Trident (nuclear weapons) at an estimated cost of £200 billion. Nuclear weapons have rightly been declared illegal by the UN. After armed conflict, small arms remain in the community and result in significant mortality and morbidity, especially on children and young people [2]. At present, over half a million small arms are produced each year [2].
We need an immediate ceasefire in the Ukraine, but also in the Yemen and other areas of armed conflict.
As health professionals, we should support the call for a global peace dividend, whereby ALL member states reduce military expenditure [1]. This call by world leaders and more than 50 Nobel laureates is more important than ever. Unfortunately, politicians throughout the world will use the war in the Ukraine as a justification for producing more weapons on a planet that already has over 100 million AK-47 assault rifles [2]. As health professionals, we should call for a reduction in arms sales and investment in health, education and social welfare.
References
1. Choonara I. Global peace dividend and child health.BMJ Paediatrics Open 2022;6:e001442. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001442
2. Feinstein A, Choonara I. Arms sales and child health. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2020;4:e000809. Published 2020 Sep 9. doi:10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000809
Competing interests:
No competing interests
24 March 2022
Imti Choonara
Retired paediatrician
University of Nottingham
Dept of Child Health, Derby Medical School,University of Nottingham
Rapid Response:
Re: Russia invades Ukraine again: how can the health community respond?Health professionals and military expenditure
Dear Editor,
I agree with the authors re the threat to public health from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, I cannot agree with the suggestion that as health professionals, we should support an increase in military expenditure. Global military expenditure was estimated as $1981 billion in 2020 by the Stockholm Institute of Peace Research, an increase of 2.6% from 2019 [1]. That is equivalent to $250 for every individual on the planet. The UK increased its military expenditure by 2.9% in 2020 and is planning to renew Trident (nuclear weapons) at an estimated cost of £200 billion. Nuclear weapons have rightly been declared illegal by the UN. After armed conflict, small arms remain in the community and result in significant mortality and morbidity, especially on children and young people [2]. At present, over half a million small arms are produced each year [2].
We need an immediate ceasefire in the Ukraine, but also in the Yemen and other areas of armed conflict.
As health professionals, we should support the call for a global peace dividend, whereby ALL member states reduce military expenditure [1]. This call by world leaders and more than 50 Nobel laureates is more important than ever. Unfortunately, politicians throughout the world will use the war in the Ukraine as a justification for producing more weapons on a planet that already has over 100 million AK-47 assault rifles [2]. As health professionals, we should call for a reduction in arms sales and investment in health, education and social welfare.
References
1. Choonara I. Global peace dividend and child health.BMJ Paediatrics Open 2022;6:e001442. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001442
2. Feinstein A, Choonara I. Arms sales and child health. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2020;4:e000809. Published 2020 Sep 9. doi:10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000809
Competing interests: No competing interests