Surgery and Refugee Populations

Abstract

although infectiousdiseases, malnutrition and diarrhea account for the vast majority of deaths in many crisis situations, many individuals also suffer from traumatic injuries and other surgically treatable conditions. understanding the determinants involved in surgical interventions is facilitated by defining baseline, emergent and chronic phases for refugees and internally displaced populations. international aid organizations often expend vast resources on surgical interventions. More detailed assessments and further study may help provide insight into optimizing the success and minimizing the cost of such interventions. this article is ar eview of the surgical and disaster literature and defines issues for further study.

Evaluation of a surgical service in the chronic phase of a refugee camp: an example from the Thai-Myanmar border

“…The focus is on the so called ‘emergent phase’ [10] of crisis situations which pertains to acute events (natural disaster, war, terrorist attack etc.). However, globally, a significant number of refugee populations reside in the protracted ‘chronic phase’ (either following an emergent event, or during prolonged low level conflict) – the surgical needs in these populations are poorly documented [10]. The Thailand-Myanmar border is one such protracted situation.…”

The unmet surgical needs of global refugee populations: A perspective review

“…44,45 Consequently, delivering a standardised quality of care becomes an insurmountable challenge, leaving refugees without access to the level of medical attention available to their counterparts in host countries (Figure 3). 37 Notably, this situation predominantly afflicts LMICs, such as Colombia and Pakistan, both among the top host nations for refugees, harbouring millions of displaced individuals. 2 Financial constraints, both from the health system and the refugee populations Access to healthcare poses significant financial challenges in many regions worldwide, with operating theatre expenses ranging from $7 to $113 hourly.…”

“… 8 , 20 , 36 Multiple studies have underscored the existence of unmet surgical needs among vulnerable refugees afflicted by infectious diseases. 11 , 37 The lack of surgical resources perpetuates a cycle of vulnerability, with refugees enduring the devastating impacts of infectious diseases such as septic shock, poor wound healing, prolonged hospital admission and higher rates of morbidity and mortality. 8 , 36 …”

“…The International Red Cross Organisation is a prominent organisation with highly experienced staff, ample resources and modern facilities dedicated to providing surgical care for vulnerable refugee populations. 37 However, refugee camps continue to face the issue of a severe shortage of healthcare workers ( Figure 3 ). 12 A 2016 study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health estimated that 59.5 million displaced individuals globally required 2.78 million surgical procedures.…”

“…Refugee camps, often constrained by their limited size, frequently operate with minimal staff and basic equipment, resulting in a chronic shortage of qualified physicians and surgeons (Kushner et al 37 ). Moreso, several studies have reported a significant dearth in the healthcare workforce, particularly in refugee camps.…”