International Health Organizations and Relief

Cultural competence is a vital necessity in the context of international relief and healthcare because cultural miscommunication based on differing cultural norms and expectations can be disastrous in a crisis. Cultural competence is required for working with patients, local leaders and organizations, international coworkers, government, and military officials. It is also beneficial for one’s personal survival through coping with culture shock and maintaining psychological wellness.

This entry discusses the unique cultural competency that is needed for making international health and relief missions successful.

Currently, globalization of health is increasingly perceived as a shared right across cultures. David Law and Mila Versteeg compared national constitutions across periods of time and across countries and found out that the right to a healthy environment was not articulated in any national ...