Summer School 2017

2017 Summer School on Refugee and Migrant Health

10 – 14 July 2017, Syracuse, Sicily, Italy

WHO/Europe is pleased to have successfully organized the 2017 Summer School on Refugee and Migrant Health, an intensive five-day course offered under the umbrella of the Knowledge Hub on Health and Migration. The Summer School took place in Syracuse, Italy, on 10–14 July 2017. It was organized with the support of the Ministry of Health of Italy and the Regional Health Council of Sicily, International Organization for Migration, the European Commission and in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration and the Health Initiative of the Americas at the University of California, Berkeley, United States of America.

Overview

The Summer School seeks to improve participants’ knowledge and understanding of the main health issues and needs of refugees and migrants, and of the broader public health and health-system implications of large-scale migration in origin, transit and destination countries. It provides a space for bridging research, policy and practice; sharing practical, real-world knowledge and experience; and fostering debate and critical thinking.

The theme of 2017 Summer School was “Managing the public health aspects of migration”. It included a combination of plenary presentations, workshops, interactive discussions and panels. Faculty consisted of international experts from different regions and disciplines relevant to the area of migration and health.

The course included a field trip to a point-of-entry location in Sicily known for receiving regular arrivals of refugees and migrants. The trip provided participants with a first-hand understanding of how authorities in Italy are currently managing migration-related public health challenges.

The Summer School also offered networking opportunities for course alumni, including the ability to connect with WHO/Europe’s migration and health work via the Knowledge Hub on Health and Migration.

The Summer School on Refugee and Migrant Health aims to provide the necessary guidance, training and support tools to enable public health workers, service providers and planners to understand and implement appropriate migrant-sensitive interventions, while enabling the sharing of knowledge and skills among participating countries.