Displaced: In Search of Peace and Health

By The Global Fund

June 18^th, 2018

When people flee their homes and communities because of conflict, poverty or persecution, they also leave behind family doctors and village clinics. Many interrupt treatment, putting their health in jeopardy. Displaced populations are frequently exposed to infectious diseases associated with overcrowding and poor sanitation. Pregnant women and children face even greater risks because of their weaker immune systems. The Global Fund partnership works across the world to address the health needs of refugees, wherever they go, providing prevention, treatment and care.

“Where God leads us, that is where we go.”

Displaced: In Search of Peace and Health

Rewida and her three daughters had to leave their home near Aleppo, Syria, and are now living in a refugee camp in Jordan. Like many people, Rewida never imagined leaving her home and the familiar surroundings of her village. But unexpected events interceded. Rewida was diagnosed with tuberculosis last year, as were two of her three daughters. They are responding well to treatment, closely monitored by health workers who check on them daily. Getting over a debilitating illness feeds her sense of hope.

“Here in this camp, we have safety from war and we have food. But life is still hard.”

After surviving an attack that killed her husband, Beatrice Vumilia carried her five children across hundreds of kilometers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Kyaka Refugee Camp in Uganda. But tragedy followed her to the camp. The preventive health services she received at the camp were not sufficient to protect her last child Olivier from malaria. Standing behind Olivier’s fresh grave, she ponders the road ahead for her and her family.

“I love to help people. I have seen children grow up, others get cured and play, mothers get pregnant. When I enter their homes they call me by my name: ‘Shahina…Shahina’.”

Shahina Akhter is a community health worker at a refugee camp in Bangladesh. With her gentle gait, Shahina braves heat and heavy rains as she goes from house to house, looking for possible cases of tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhea among Rohingya refugees. For many refugees, community health workers are like guardian angels.

“I am blessed people have come to our aid. When I see Shahina I feel peace in my mind. I know she will take care of me.”

Alam Baher and her six children fled their village in Myanmar at nightfall and now live in refugee camp in Bangladesh. She walked for days through mountains and jungles, and arrived with few belongings. Through a community health worker, Alam found out she had tuberculosis and was put on treatment. Her cough has almost disappeared, even though she still has a mild fever. The community health worker makes sure she stays on treatment and eats well.

“I don’t know why God chose me to get this disease.”

Arim, a patient with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, holds an X-ray of his damaged lungs. Arim, from Kurdistan, had to go to Jordan to get adequate treatment for his disease. XDR-TB is particularly complex, and requires prolonged treatment. Arim has been on a treatment regimen for more than two years, and has responded well to new drugs that have become available, with support from the Global Fund. His personal journey has been arduous, and he is stoic about the challenges that have come his way.