Strengthening Health Mediators’ Capacity to Support Ukrainian Refugees: A 3-Day Training for Seven EU Countries
30 September 2024
Riga, Latvia
In response to the ongoing healthcare challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees across Europe, a comprehensive 3-day training program was recently held in Latvia. The program, developed and led by Professor Giorgi Pkhakadze, brought together health mediators from seven EU countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova. Organized in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Health and Migration department, WHO/Europe, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the European Union (EU), the primary goal was to strengthen the capacity of health mediators to support refugees and migrants navigating unfamiliar health systems in their host countries.
This training is part of a larger initiative to address the healthcare needs of displaced people from Ukraine and other migrants in Europe. It represents a concerted effort by WHO, IOM, and the EU to bolster healthcare systems and improve access to essential services for millions of refugees displaced by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Professor Giorgi Pkhakadze emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating:
“Health mediators are the bridge between refugees and healthcare services. Without their support, many refugees would struggle to access the care they need, especially in the context of different languages, cultures, and healthcare systems.”
Partnering with WHO, IOM and the EU for Better Health of Refugees and Displaced People from Ukraine
Since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, millions of people have been forced to flee their homes. As of November 2023, more than 5.9 million Ukrainian refugees are displaced across Europe. The large influx of displaced individuals has placed significant pressure on the national healthcare systems of many EU countries. In response, WHO, IOM, and the EU are working with national health authorities to manage the situation and strengthen healthcare systems to accommodate the needs of refugees and displaced people.
The project, called “Improving Access to Health Care for Refugees and People Displaced from Ukraine Benefiting from Temporary Protection in EU Member States,” is funded by the EU as part of the 2023 EU4Health Work Programme. This initiative, running from 2023 to 2025, focuses on ten European countries: Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Moldova, Romania, and Slovakia.
WHO, IOM, and the EU will collaborate on several key areas:
• Analyzing and addressing barriers that make it difficult for refugees to access healthcare services.
• Supporting national health authorities to expand health coverage and meet the needs of displaced people.
• Training health mediators to help refugees navigate healthcare systems in their host countries.
• Building networks of healthcare workers and training them to provide refugee-sensitive services.
• Empowering displaced Ukrainian health workers to continue their professional development in host countries.
• Increasing vaccination coverage among refugees.
• Establishing health promotion programs tailored to the realities of displaced people’s lives.
Professor Pkhakadze commented:
“The partnership between WHO, IOM, and the EU is crucial. By pooling resources and expertise, we can better support national health systems to accommodate the large number of displaced individuals and ensure they receive the care they deserve.”
The Role of Health Mediators in Supporting Refugees
Health mediators are integral to this broader effort. Their role goes beyond providing translation or logistical support to refugees; they serve as critical links between refugees and healthcare systems. Health mediators advocate for refugees, help them navigate complex healthcare services, and ensure that culturally sensitive care is provided.
For Ukrainian refugees, many of whom have experienced severe trauma due to the ongoing war, health mediators play a vital role in offering compassionate and effective support. These refugees face numerous challenges in accessing healthcare, from language barriers to unfamiliar healthcare systems and a lack of knowledge about their rights in host countries.
“Health mediators are not just facilitators; they are advocates,” said Professor Pkhakadze. “They help refugees overcome the numerous challenges they face when trying to access healthcare in a new country, ensuring that their rights and needs are respected.”
Health mediators are trained to overcome these challenges by advocating for refugees, bridging communication gaps, and ensuring that care is provided in a culturally aware and respectful manner. Their work is essential not only for the wellbeing of refugees but also for the effective functioning of healthcare systems in host countries, which must adapt to the influx of new patients with unique needs.
Refugee and Migrant Health: Global Competency Standards for Health Workers
A cornerstone of this training is the Global Competency Standards for health workers, which sets the benchmark for providing equal and quality care to refugees and migrants. Refugee and migrant populations are highly diverse, with significant variations in life experiences, health needs, and access to healthcare. These standards outline the expected behaviors of health workers in delivering high-quality care and are designed to inform education programs aligned with international standards of care.
The Global Competency Standards provides a foundation for developing competency-based curricula tailored to the local context and ensures that health workers achieve a minimum level of competence. It emphasizes person-centered, culturally responsive care across nine core competencies, recognizing the importance of training, support, and empowerment within strong health systems.
These standards were developed in consultation with recognized experts in refugee and migrant health, including representatives from leading universities, international organizations, and global networks. The training program led by Professor Giorgi Pkhakadze aligns with these standards, ensuring that health mediators are equipped with the skills and knowledge required to meet the unique needs of refugees and migrants effectively.
Key Focus Areas of the Training Program
The 3-day training program, developed and executed by Professor Giorgi Pkhakadze, focused on several critical areas to equip health mediators with the tools they need to support refugees effectively:
1. Culturally Sensitive Care: Health mediators learned the importance of providing care that respects the cultural backgrounds and unique experiences of refugees. Culturally sensitive care is essential for building trust between healthcare providers and refugees, ensuring that individuals feel comfortable and understood when seeking medical assistance.
2. Navigating Healthcare Systems: The training emphasized the importance of helping refugees navigate healthcare systems in host countries. Health mediators were trained to guide refugees through the complexities of accessing care, including booking appointments, understanding their healthcare rights, and obtaining necessary services.
3. Strengthening Core Competencies: Participants received practical training on overcoming language barriers, managing limited resources, and building trust with refugees. These skills are crucial for ensuring that refugees receive timely and appropriate care.
4. Universal Health Coverage: The training aligns with the broader goal of achieving universal health coverage (UHC), ensuring that everyone, including refugees and displaced people, has access to essential healthcare services.
Certification of Accomplishment and Participation
In addition to the practical skills and knowledge gained during the training, participants were awarded formal recognition for their achievements.
Participants who completed the Global Competency Standards e-learning course, also developed by Professor Giorgi Pkhakadze, received a Certificate of Accomplishment. This online course, available on the WHO e-learning platform, provided a comprehensive understanding of the core competencies needed to support refugees and migrants effectively. The course is designed to be self-paced, allowing health professionals to complete it alongside their regular duties.
Additionally, participants received a Certificate of Participation from the WHO Latvia Country Office, acknowledging their active involvement in the 3-day in-person training. These certifications highlight the participants’ commitment to supporting refugees and their professional development in this critical area.
Moving Forward: Strengthening Healthcare Systems for Refugees
The collaboration between WHO, IOM, and the EU, along with the training of health mediators, is a critical step toward addressing the healthcare needs of Ukrainian refugees and other displaced people across Europe. This partnership aims to strengthen national healthcare systems, expand access to essential services, and ensure that displaced people receive the care they deserve.
Professor Giorgi Pkhakadze concluded: “By investing in the training and development of health mediators, we are not only supporting refugees but also building stronger, more inclusive healthcare systems capable of meeting the needs of all people, regardless of their circumstances.”
By investing in the training and development of health mediators, Europe is taking a proactive step toward creating a more inclusive and resilient healthcare system capable of supporting all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Enroll in the free Global Competency Standards e-course, available on the WHO e-learning platform: https://bit.ly/3Y5juaZ
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