Breaking Down Barriers: Understanding Dementia in Refugees and Migrants
As the world grapples with the complexities of global migration and the resulting healthcare challenges, a critical concern has emerged: the disproportionate impact of dementia on refugees and migrants. The World Health Organization (WHO) has taken a pivotal step towards addressing this pressing issue by launching a groundbreaking webinar, shedding light on the epidemiology, public health implications, and global responses to dementia in this vulnerable population.
With millions of refugees and migrants forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters, they often face unique barriers to accessing quality healthcare, including dementia care. The consequences of neglecting this issue are staggering: increased risk of dementia-related morbidity, mortality, and reduced quality of life.
In this article, we’ll delve into the WHO’s comprehensive webinar, which brings together leading experts to discuss the emerging evidence, policy frameworks, and innovative solutions aimed at mitigating the impact of dementia on refugees and migrants. ByAddressing the Continuum of Care for Non-Communicable Diseases: The policy question and the need for evidence-informed interventions
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the second report of the Global Evidence Review on Health and Migration (GEHM) series, which focuses on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their impact on refugees and migrants. The report aims to address the policy question of how to ensure the continuum of care for NCDs during the migration cycle, highlighting the need for evidence-informed interventions to support policymakers and health sector managers.
The WHO Health and Migration Programme (PHM) has partnered with various departments and regional offices to develop this report, which provides an analytical review of the global published evidence on migration and NCDs. The report examines the existence of health policies and practices in health systems that enable migrants and refugees to access the necessary healthcare for NCDs.
The need for evidence-informed interventions is crucial, as refugees and migrants often face barriers in accessing healthcare services, including those for NCDs. The report highlights the importance of addressing the continuum of care for NCDs, which requires a comprehensive approach that involves policymakers, health sector managers, and other stakeholders.
The GEHM Report on Non-Communicable Diseases: An analytical review of global published evidence on migration and NCDs
The GEHM report on NCDs provides a comprehensive review of the global published evidence on migration and NCDs, highlighting the challenges faced by refugees and migrants in accessing healthcare services for NCDs. The report examines the existing health policies and practices in health systems, identifying gaps and barriers that hinder access to healthcare for NCDs.
The report’s findings are based on a review of existing and accessible grey and peer-review literature, providing a set of policy considerations to support evidence-informed policymaking. The report’s analytical review of the global published evidence on migration and NCDs highlights the need for policymakers and health sector managers to address the continuum of care for NCDs.
According to the report, refugees and migrants often face limited access to healthcare services during the migration cycle, resulting in potential increased morbidity and mortality from NCDs. The report emphasizes the importance of ensuring the continuum of care for NCDs, which requires a coordinated approach that involves policymakers, health sector managers, and other stakeholders.
Barriers and Gaps in Ensuring Continuum of Care: An overview of the challenges faced by refugees and migrants in accessing healthcare for NCDs
Refugees and migrants face numerous barriers and gaps in accessing healthcare services for NCDs, including limited access to health services, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and language and cultural barriers. These challenges are often exacerbated by xenophobia, discrimination, and inadequate living, housing, and working conditions.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the existing inequities in access to and utilization of health services, particularly for refugees and migrants. The pandemic has posed additional challenges, including increased risk of infection and death, and negative economic impacts due to lockdown and travel restrictions.
The GEHM report highlights the need to address these barriers and gaps, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the continuum of care for NCDs. The report’s findings and recommendations provide a valuable resource for policymakers, health sector managers, and other stakeholders to inform policy and practice in promoting the health of refugees and migrants.
The Launch of the GEHM Report on Non-Communicable Diseases
High-Level Session: Opening remarks and video messages from key stakeholders
The launch of the GEHM report on NCDs featured a high-level session, which included opening remarks and video messages from key stakeholders, including Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab, Deputy Director-General of WHO, and ambassadors from Norway and the Republic of Korea.
Technical Session: The strategic importance of evidence products for policy making for refugees and migrants
The technical session focused on the strategic importance of evidence products for policy making for refugees and migrants, featuring presentations from Dr. Santino Severoni, Director of PHM, and Dr. Bente Mikkelsen, Director of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO.
Expert Insights: Dr. Santino Severoni, Dr. Bente Mikkelsen, and other experts share their perspectives on the GEHM report
Dr. Santino Severoni, Dr. Bente Mikkelsen, and other experts shared their perspectives on the GEHM report, highlighting its significance in informing policy and practice in promoting the health of refugees and migrants.
Global Responses and Future Directions
The Role of Policymakers and Stakeholders: Ensuring refugee and migrant sensitive health care services
Policymakers and stakeholders have a crucial role to play in ensuring refugee and migrant sensitive health care services, which requires a coordinated approach that involves governments, health sector managers, and other stakeholders.
The GEHM report’s findings and recommendations provide a valuable resource for policymakers and stakeholders to inform policy and practice in promoting the health of refugees and migrants.
Addressing the Human Right to Health: The obligation of countries to provide healthcare services to refugees and migrants
Countries have an obligation to provide healthcare services to refugees and migrants, as enshrined in the human right to health. The GEHM report highlights the importance of addressing the human right to health, emphasizing the need for countries to provide refugee and migrant sensitive health care services.
Future Directions: Leveraging the GEHM series to inform policy and practice in promoting the health of refugees and migrants
The GEHM series provides a valuable resource for policymakers, health sector managers, and other stakeholders to inform policy and practice in promoting the health of refugees and migrants. The series’ findings and recommendations can be leveraged to address the challenges faced by refugees and migrants in accessing healthcare services, including those for NCDs.
The WHO Health and Migration Programme (PHM) will continue to provide global leadership in health and migration issues, working towards promoting the health of refugees and migrants through evidence-informed policy and practice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the launch webinar addressing dementia in refugees and migrants, as organized by the World Health Organization, has shed light on a pressing issue that demands global attention. Key points from the discussion highlighted the alarming epidemiology of dementia among refugee and migrant populations, who are disproportionately affected by the condition due to displacement, trauma, and limited access to healthcare. The webinar also delved into the public health implications, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive and inclusive healthcare services that cater to the unique needs of these vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the discussion underscored the importance of global responses, including policy reforms, community-based initiatives, and research collaborations, to mitigate the impact of dementia on refugees and migrants.
The significance of this topic cannot be overstated, as it intersects with pressing global issues such as migration, healthcare, and human rights. The implications of inaction are far-reaching, from exacerbating health disparities to undermining social cohesion and economic development. In contrast, a proactive and inclusive approach to addressing dementia in refugees and migrants can yield dividends in terms of improved health outcomes, enhanced social integration, and more resilient communities. Looking ahead, it is essential that policymakers, researchers, and practitioners continue to collaborate and innovate in response to this growing challenge.