The World Health Organization (WHO) is organising the third edition of its annual Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health, which will continue from Monday to Friday in Dhaka with a focus on capacity-building.
Over the five days, policymakers, UN partner agencies, academia, members of civil society, and stakeholders at the Global School will exchange knowledge and experiences to address key elements of capacity-building, read a WHO media release published Monday.
The e-learning hybrid event, hosted by the health ministry, aims to support countries and territories to build professional competence and capacity to adequately address refugee and migrant health issues. It will be streamed worldwide.
“The yearly Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health is a flagship of the WHO Health and Migration Programme and an opportunity to strengthen the strategic and operational collaboration with Regional and country offices on refugee and migrant health towards the implementation of the Global Action Plan on promoting the health of refugees and migrants 2019-2023 (GAP),” said Dr Santino Severoni, director of the Health and Migration Programme.
Globally one in eight or over one billion people today are migrants with 281 million international migrants and many million individuals who are stateless. Climate change, rising inequality, conflicts, trade, and population growth are accelerating these trends.
The health workforce has a vital role in providing for the health rights and needs of refugees and migrants, the release adds.
“Migration and displacement can have deep and long-lasting impacts on physical and mental health and well-being, and cultural and linguistic differences, financial barriers, stigma and discrimination can all hamper access to health services for refugees and migrants,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
“Health workers have a crucial role in helping to overcome these barriers. The WHO Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health is a valuable resource for building the capacity of health workers to better serve refugees and migrants,” he added.
Held in a different location each year, the Global School aims to leverage the learnings and experiences of countries in close collaboration with WHO and governments.
While not all refugees and migrants are vulnerable, often they are, due to an array of determinants, from xenophobia and discrimination to poor living, housing, and working conditions, and inadequate access to health services that are people-centered and which are sensitive to refugee and migrant health needs.
“Human right to health is a right that extends to all people everywhere, especially refugees and migrants.
“Because to be truly respected, protected and fulfilled, a right must be fully enjoyed by the most marginalised and vulnerable – those at risk of or who are already being left behind, which often includes people on the move,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia, addressing the participants.
This year, over 7.1 million Bangladeshis were displaced by climate change a number that could reach 13.3 million by 2050.
Since 1978 the country has also witnessed three major influxes of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals totaling more than one million people each with unique medical needs and housed in one of the world’s largest and most densely populated camps in Cox’s Bazar.
“Not only has Bangladesh provided them access to free health care – including, most recently, Covid-19 vaccines – but it has also made concerted efforts to address key social, economic, environmental, and legal vulnerabilities,” said the Regional Director.
Open to all audiences, the Global School aims to reach a diverse audience of policy makers, health sector managers, and officers working at different levels within Ministries of Health.
Researchers, University students, nongovernmental agencies, youth representatives and journalists also participate.
“From each context to the next, no challenge is the same, nor will be the solution. But of critical need to all countries and health systems is a health workforce that is well-trained, culturally sensitive and competent, and which is sensitive to the needs of refugees and migrants, their languages and unique health problems,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh.
