Health System Responses to COVID-19: How Can We Meet the Needs of Refugees and Internally Displaced People?
November 9th, 12.05-13.20 GMT
Dr Karin Diaconu
The purpose of the session/key objectives:
- Share lessons learned from the three studies about different approaches to using evidence to strengthen health systems and meet needs of refugees and IDPs in COVID-19 response
- Identify challenges and discuss effective strategies that policy makers and operational actors can enact for meeting the needs of IDPs and refugee populations in the context of the pandemic
- Identify lessons and messages for policymakers for how health systems can be adapted and strengthened in a post-COVID-19 to ensure that refugees and IDPs are not left behind
Summary of the Planned Session
This interactive panel discusses recent evidence on public health responses in Mali, Palestine, Lebanon and Colombia to address needs of IDPs and refugees impacted by COVID-19. Policy solutions and lessons learned for service delivery will be highlighted, contributing to a re-imagining of more just and equitable health systems.
Objectives
- Share lessons learned from the three studies about different approaches to using evidence to strengthen health systems and meet needs of refugees and IDPs in COVID-19 response
- Identify challenges and discuss effective strategies that policy makers and operational actors can enact for meeting the needs of IDPs and refugee populations in the context of the pandemic
- Identify lessons and messages for policymakers for how health systems can be adapted and strengthened in a post-COVID-19 to ensure that refugees and IDPs are not left behind
- Secondary objective: Raise awareness of importance of research for improving health systems and of R2HC funding and support in this area
Speakers
- Chair: Dr Fouad M. Fouad, Associate Professor of Public Health Practice, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut (Lebanon)
- Discussant: Dr. Akihiro Seita, Director of the Health Programme (HP) at United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Jordan.
- Presenters and panelists:
- Dr. Arturo Harker Roa, Associate Professor, School of Government, Universidad de los Andes
- Dr Karin Diaconu, Research Fellow, The Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University (UK)
Run of show
9 minutes | Welcome and opening remarks | Dr Fouad
- Scene setting: Why this session is important? Introduce the 2 studies and contextualise
- Highlight role of research and practice partnerships in addressing health systems challenges (inc R2HC)
- Instructions to audience about how to engage /opening poll
9 minutes | Presentation on Colombia research | Dr Roa
- Lessons learned about challenges in supporting refugees/IDPs, what worked how research contributing to improving health response
9 minutes | Presentation on Gaza and Lebanon research | Dr Diaconu
- Lessons learned about challenges in supporting refugees/IDPs, what worked, how research contributing to improving health response
3 minutes | Discussant remarks | Dr Seita
- Fouad to invite Dr Seita for brief responses to presentations /remarks
20 minutes | Facilitated discussion | Dr Fouad
- Questions for responses from speakers EG:
- What are the remaining priorities requiring resources/ action from policymakers? Where is international support required?
- Where are remaining research gaps in your context?
- What lessons are there for policymakers emerging from your study?
15 minutes | Q/A with audience | Dr Fouad with R2HC support
- Draw on top-voted questions from audience for panellists
- Ensure good representation- questions from women / countries of study
10 minutes | Final key messages + wrap up Dr Fouad and speakers
- Invite final key messages from all speakers (4-5 mins)
- Wrap up (4-5 mins) - key messages thank audience
- Encourage audience to access further info on the R2HC studies- signpost links
