The second day of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2024 hosted a panel discussion dedicated to the elimination of tuberculosis, drawing on insights from a recent report on innovative solutions for refugee and migrant populations. The session was chaired by Mr. Stephen Sakur of the BBC.
Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the World Health Organization Global TB Programme and lead author of the report, was joined by Ms Bience Gawanas the Vice-Chair of the Global Fund Board; Dr. Muna Al Muslamani, the Director of Communicable Disease Center HMC; Dr. Michela Martini of the International Organization for Migration; Dr. Paul Spiegel of Johns Hopkins University, and Mr. Jospeh Mwangi Cachari of the Center for Disease Control Qatar.
Dr. Tereza discussed the socioeconomic factors that contribute to the high prevalence of tuberculosis among refugee and migrant populations, including overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited access to healthcare services.
The panel delved into strategies to put into practice the report’s ten policy recommendations, which comply with global health initiatives and draw inspiration from successful models to address TB, particularly within refugee and migrant communities.
Dr. Martini pointed out that, “This region sees large cross-border movements of undocumented migrants, and thanks to The Global Fund, we have been able to launch a roadmap towards the elimination of TB in regional countries.”
Shedding light on Qatar’s accomplishments in the domain, Dr. Al Mulsamini, said that, according to the CDC’s own registry, “The number of cases of TB in Qatar had decreased from 41 cases per 100,000 of population in 2002, to 31 in 2023.”
“All GCC countries follow the WHO recommendations and have national TB elimination programs,” said Dr. Al Mulsamini, adding that Qatar’s TB monitoring service is centralized at the CDC (Center for Disease Control) hub and can last for up to one and half years. “We monitor migrants through our TB register of high-incidence countries,” she said, adding that “if migrants are on anti-TB medication, we follow-up through the IHR (International Health Regulation) and the MOPH (Ministry of Public Health) when they return to their own country.”
The second day of WISH comprised other panels and discussions as follows:
- Empowering the Frontline – Supporting Nurses Through Strategic Investment
- Rebuilding Hope: Healing, Reconstruction, and Resilience
- Is The Stigma Around Obesity Leading to Unhealthy Outcomes?
- Leveraging Sports for Health and Well-being in Fragile Contexts
- Innovative Solutions for the Elimination of Tuberculosis Among Refugees and Migrants
- Psychological Health and Women: Insights and Approaches from an Islamic Perspective
- Are We Missing the Link between TB and Mental Health?
- Palliative Care: How Can We Respond to 10 Years of Limited Progress?
- Women’s Employment in Health in the EMR
- Prophetic Medicine Today: The Interplay of Medicine, Ethics, and Sharia
- National Action Plan for Obesity, Diabetes and Risk Factors for ASCVD
- Humanizing Health Through Community Engagement
- Anxiety, Loneliness and the Fate of Gen Z: Tackling the Unprecedented Global Mental Health Crisis
The biennial WISH summit was inaugurated by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation. The opening ceremony, held at the Qatar National Convention Centre, featured addresses from distinguished speakers including Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Lord Darzi of Denham, and Christos Christou.
WISH 2024 challenged the global health community to prioritize human-centered healthcare. The theme, “Humanizing Health: Conflict, Equity, and Resilience,” emphasized the necessity to build a more equitable and resilient health system, particularly for those affected by conflict and displacement.
In the lead-up to the summit, WISH collaborated with the WHO to produce a series of insightful reports and to develop a roadmap for implementing the summit’s recommendations.
The summit brought together over 200 leading health experts to share innovative ideas and practices to tackle the world’s most urgent health issues.
