Global Health Researcher Spotlight
4 October 2023
A research agenda for continuity of chronic health care for forcibly displaced persons
Symposium
On 14 September 2023, University of Copenhagen’s School of Global Health hosted a symposium on the topic of ‘Continuity of chronic healthcare among forcibly displaced persons’. As evident from the presentations on the day, this topic is still very much an emerging, neglected, and under-developed field of research and practice. The symposium presenters got together to propose research priorities for the field going forward.
10 selected researchers, 13 poster presentations, 2 keynotes, 1 case challenge by Red Cross and 200 curious participants comprised the symposium on 14 September, which took place in the beautiful historic Ceremonial Hall at the University of Copenhagen.
The need for a symposium like this was expressed clearly by the symposium convener and Director of the School of Global Health, Lena Skovgaard Andersen:
"In a world marked by conflict and disasters, some of which are accelerated by the climate crisis, we urgently need to address continuity of chronic health care among forcibly displaced populations. By leveraging our extensive collective knowledge, experience, and resources, which we have demonstrated here today, we can help to ensure that the most vulnerable among us receive the healthcare they need to survive and thrive.”
Moving forward, we will convene a special issue, detailing the contours of a refugee-competent health service, which considers the chronic care needs and circumstances of forcibly displaced populations.”
Co-convener and Professor, Professor Morten Skovdal also expressed the importance of the event by highlighting the special issue on the topic, which is set to be published in 2024:
“On this day, we brought together leading experts, and started carving out the future direction of this developing problem-space. Moving forward, we will convene a special issue, detailing the contours of a refugee-competent health service, which considers the chronic care needs and circumstances of forcibly displaced populations.”
The event was supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Check out the video recordings of the keynotes and rapid fire presentations below.
Find the slides from the presentations in this Google Drive folder.