Update on the Global Trafficking in Persons Situation and How Health Professionals can get Involved

Although largely framed as a legal issue, a social issue, and sometimes a geo-political issue, human trafficking is also a public health issue. Public health approaches consider all of these factors to take local information to make locally-appropriate interventions. It can also take local data to help feed our global pool of knowledge regarding this complex issue. Human Trafficking is both an individual as well as a public health issue. While direct health care is important, health professionals and organizations need to move beyond this and get involved in prevention, research, developing appropriate treatment guidelines, and monitoring and evaluation of health care interventions. We are against human trafficking because it harms people - so let's take approaches that will really work to mitigate, or even prevent, that harm.

The enterprise of medical missions has brought health and opened the doors for the gospel in countless countries. This rich history continues today. In Africa, 40-70% of health services are still provided by church and mission facilities. How do we build on the achievements of yesteryears and achieve success in the years to come? How can you fit in?