Introduction

Throughout history, people have moved for many reasons, including war and conflict, insecurity, disasters, poverty, to find work and seek a better life for themselves and their families. But more people are on the move now than ever before. Migration, particularly forced migration, has increased yearly over the last two decades. In 2021, 89.3 million people were forced to flee their homes.

There is an urgent and growing need for rehabilitation services to meet the needs of displaced persons at each stage of the migration process. The impact of forced migration on health and well-being is contributing to rapid increases in the number of people experiencing a decline in functioning. There are enormous unmet rehabilitation needs concentrated among the poorest and most vulnerable populations. Low- and middle-income countries host 83% of all displaced persons, but these countries are often ill-equipped to cope with the increasing need for rehabilitation services.

This series of courses provides a comprehensive perspective on the effects of displacement on health. It considers the competencies necessary to deliver quality care across the broad scope of rehabilitation needed by displaced persons.

Aims

This programme of courses aims to provide an overview of rehabilitation for displaced persons. It aims to enable rehabilitation professionals to play a proactive role in global and local efforts to increase access to high-quality rehabilitation for displaced persons through all stages of the migration process.

Outline

This programme will cover the following topics:

1. Key Terms and Concepts Surrounding the Global Context for Displaced Persons
2. Key Trends and Patterns Surrounding the Global Context for Displaced Persons
3. Self-Care for Rehabilitation Professionals Working with Displaced Persons
4. An Overview of Trauma Informed Care
5. Working With Interpreters
6. Mobile Phone Use in a Crisis
7. Rehabilitation Teamwork in Supporting Displaced Persons
8. The Role of Rehabilitation Professionals in Camps for Displaced Persons
9. Considerations for Working with Displaced Children and Young People
10. Considerations for Working with LGBTQIA+ Displaced Persons
11. Evidence-Based Pain Assessment for Displaced Persons
12. Evidence-Based Management of Pain for Displaced Persons
13. Considerations and Practical Tools for Working with Survivors of Sexual Violence and Trafficking
14. Considerations for Working with Survivors of Torture
15. Body Awareness in Trauma Survivors

Target audience

This course is aimed at rehabilitation professionals, students and assistants including but not limited to Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Rehabilitation Doctors, Rehabilitation Nurses, Prosthetists, Orthotists, Psychologists, Audiologists, Dietetics, Social Workers. Community Health Workers, Nurses or Medical Doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.