Funding to improve respiratory palliative care amongst Rohingya refugees

The research is led by Dr Farzana Khan, Founder and President of the Fasiuddin Khan Research Foundation and supported by Professor Liz Grant and the University of Edinburgh.

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The need for palliative care in humanitarian crises

Since August 2017, over 700,000 of Myanmar’s minority Rohingya community have been forced across the border into southern Bangladesh.

The situation in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, is now shifting from an emergency response to dealing with a prolonged crisis.

It is essential to address everyday illnesses and health care needs, including the large numbers of adults and children with long-term and life-threatening illnesses who are currently not receiving the care they need.

Identifying needs and upskilling local Community Health Workers

Preliminary research has already begun, mapping respiratory illnesses and care amongst the refugee community in Cox’s Bazar – the first assessment of palliative care during an unfolding humanitarian crisis.

This initial work has led to the training of up to 80 Community Health Workers in palliative care early identification and management, recognition of non-communicable diseases, as well as specific palliative needs of children, and palliative care service delivery.

Not only is this training increasing knowledge and understanding of palliative care needs, it is building capacity and upskilling the local Community Health Workers, which in turn improves palliative care service provision amongst the Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar.

Improving palliative care is a vital step to improve quality of life for refugees and achieving universal health coverage.

Dr Farzana Khan