Hope away from home: Providing support for refugees with tuberculosis, wherever they live

Tuberculosis remains one of the leading causes of death due to an infectious disease, with more than 10 million people estimated to be falling ill with TB each year and around 1.5 million deaths. A human rights based and comprehensive response to the global TB epidemic requires that TB is addressed in all vulnerable groups including refugees, migrants, displaced populations and those living in settings of conflict.

World Refugee Day falls on 20 June each year. It is a day to honour refugees around the globe, recognizing the courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict, war or persecution. The theme of this year’s World Refugee Day is “hope away from home” reflecting the fact that the inclusion of refugees in the communities and countries in which they have found safety is the most effective way to support them. This is especially important for the health and wellbeing of refugees, including people who are at risk of developing TB or who have TB at the time that they fled their home countries.

“World Refugee Day in 2023 is a sober reminder of the plight of millions of refugees around the globe. In the lead up to the United Nations High Level meeting on TB where world leaders will reaffirm their commitment to ending the global TB epidemic, the prevention and management of TB in vulnerable groups such as refugees must be at the forefront of our minds,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Programme. “At a time when conflict is being reported in multiple countries and regions, we urge all stakeholders involved in the care of refugees, not to leave them behind and to intensify efforts to provide access to the best quality health care for those at risk of TB or with TB disease,” she added.

To promote better access to TB prevention and care for refugees and other populations in humanitarian settings, WHO, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued an interagency field guide on Tuberculosis prevention and care among refugees and other populations in humanitarian settings. The guide provides an overview of key actions in preparing for, and delivering, effective TB prevention and care services for refugees and other populations during humanitarian emergencies. It serves as a useful tool in humanitarian settings to alleviate the suffering and deaths caused by TB – a preventable and curable disease – especially for refugees and displaced populations. WHO has also issued an information note on ensuring continuity of essential TB services for people with TB or at risk of TB within Ukraine and in refugee-hosting countries.  Aligned to this, the WHO Regional Office for Europe has issued public health guidance on testing for TB infection, TB preventive treatment and screening for TB disease, in the context of the recent mass influx of people who arrived in European countries from neighbouring Ukraine. A linked cross-border TB exchange mechanism has been established to streamline referrals to health care facilities for TB, HIV and hepatitis testing, that continues to provide technical advice and support to countries who receive refugees.

On World Refugee Day, all stakeholders are urged to align their efforts to address the health needs of refugees as a global health priority, reinforcing the right to health for all.