WHO: One Billion People Are Leaving Their Homes Globally

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n an unprecedented move, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday October 30, the release of its first-ever global research agenda on health, migration, and displacement. This monumental step aims to address the mounting health needs of a staggering one billion people worldwide who are leaving their homes either by choice or due to force.

Prompted by a series of factors such as ongoing wars, deep-rooted conflicts, burgeoning income inequalities, significant economic shifts, rapid urbanization, and the looming threat of climate change, the global displacement issue has reached an alarming rate. The WHO has underlined the urgent necessity for evidence-based policies that ensure the well-being and protection of this vulnerable demographic, emphasizing that “no one is left behind.”

The new agenda comes after a year-long consultative process, during which the WHO collaborated with over 180 stakeholders from diverse regions and backgrounds. This extensive consultation led to the identification of five research themes that warrant significant investment. Among these are:

1. Scaling up access to vital services and achieving inclusive universal health coverage.
2. Enhancing the responsiveness of health emergency preparedness.
3. Gaining a deeper understanding of health determinants and strategizing effective solutions.
4. Prioritizing under-researched groups among migrants and the forcibly displaced.
5. Innovating collaborations in research to effectively translate findings into policy and practice.

A substantial gap

WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed his commitment, stating, “The WHO’s global research agenda on health, migration, and displacement represents a pivotal step in our ongoing efforts. By bridging the knowledge gap on the health needs of the world’s most vulnerable populations, we aim to navigate and address the challenges of a world that is constantly on the move.”

While the magnitude of the challenge is evident, the WHO has indicated that there remains a substantial gap in comprehensive knowledge about best practices to optimally support the health of those in transit. This knowledge deficit not only compromises the well-being of displaced individuals but also hinders progress towards the universal health coverage and the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Jeremy Farrar, WHO’s Chief Scientist, expressed his concern about the current state of global health. “With numerous acute and prolonged crises globally, migration and displacement have become intertwined with global health endeavors. The global research agenda is both an urgent call to action and a reminder to broaden our understanding of the health needs of migrants and the displaced.”

A foundational guide for regional and national research blueprints

In addition to setting the global research direction, the WHO’s agenda will serve as a foundational guide for regional and national research blueprints. The organization has also provided an implementation guide and toolkit within the agenda, designed to support policymakers, civil society, NGOs, and other UN agencies in tailoring the agenda to their specific migration contexts and organizational requirements.

Highlighting the urgency of the issue, an interactive dataset will be incorporated to monitor and evaluate the research funding landscape in the realm of health, migration, and displacement. Preliminary findings suggest that the existing research funding on a global scale is insufficient to address the pressing research gaps identified in the global agenda.

In closing, Dr. Santino Severoni, Director of WHO’s Department of Health and Migration, expressed optimism: “The global research agenda will catalyze specialized knowledge on the health of migrants, refugees, and other displaced groups. By understanding their unique health needs, we can work towards more equitable policies and interventions, pushing forward to achieve the SDGs.”

Sources: WHO, Anadolu Agency and Relifweb