gms | German Medical Science

As health professionals, we are typically rushing to accept challenges in caring for refugees. We are accustomed to focus our efforts on the patient who is in need of help.

Health professionals, however, may also contribute to the prevention of migration and flight. Not in all cases, but in some. Refugees are seeking asylum close to their home country. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, there are 4.1 million humans on the run. Within Africa, Ethiopia is currently the nation with the highest absolute number of refugees, approximating 1 million. Most of them have fled from the neighbouring countries Somalia, South Sudan and Eritrea. Moreover, the burden on the national economy may be substantial. Evaluating the impact of refugees by per capita Gross Domestic Product, Ethiopia ranked at the top with 469 refugees per 1 USD. Refugees are frequently (e.g., 30% prevalence) suffering from mental problems, hence mental health should be given more emphasis in the education of those who represent the largest group of the national health care system, the Health Extension Workers (HEW).

Partnerships between universities from low and high income countries may contribute to scaling up the education and work force of health professionals in the training institutions and health facilities, respectively. This may be achieved by a collaborative, need-based approach involving major stakeholders such as medical educators, involved ministries, planners and policymakers. Over the last 14 years we have demonstrated the capabilities of the collaboration between our two universities, since 2009 involving other partner universities as well.

In order to develop the human resources in Horn of Africa region, we are planning on a curriculum revision for mental health in the training of HEW’s. Furthermore, we are seeking ways to support Higher Education Institutions to increase their capacity, to provide scholarships for refugees and for nationals of the host country, likewise.