Hearing the Voice of Refugees in Policy and Practice

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Hearing the Voice of Refugees in Policy and
Practice
Hilaire Agnama RRF Member hilaire_at_globalteach.
co.uk 07807837405 https//www.youtube.com/watch?
featureplayer_embeddedveaBGcNZmyJQt16 2.11

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Strategy

• (1)The first is to raise awareness of who we
  really are and the situation we face
• (2) The second level is to influence Policy
• (3) And the 3rd level is to influence the design
  and delivery of Services, so that they are
  accessible and effective

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OLGAS STORY
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Hearing the Voice of Refugees in Policy and
Practice

• Working with the School of Health and Social Care
  Teesside University to help develop the
  Pre-registration nursing curriculum and the
  knowledge and skills of students
• Aim To ensure that the service user perspective
• influences all aspects of the curriculum design
• to help students develop key interpersonal
  skills and their understanding of person centred
  care
• to help students develop their understanding of
  peoples health and nursing care needs and that
  there is concentrated emphasis throughout the
  programme on the core values of nursing and the
  fundamentals of caring, compassion and
  communication

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Hearing the Voice of Refugees in Policy and
Practice
Knowledge or understanding of who an asylum
seeker /refugee is important in order to
provide effective care
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• Some cultural beliefs and practices
• Female Genital Mutilation
• Oldest male seen as decision maker for family.
• Interest and honour of the family are more
  important than those of individual family
  members.
• In some communities women are not to be seen by
  male doctors or nurses.
• Stigmatization will cause an individual not to
  disclose symptoms of mental health or STDs.
• In some communities eye contact is not
  established as a sign of respect.
• Preference for male child. (manifests itself in
  neglect, deprivation and discriminatory treatment
  of the girl child).
• Personal health is a private affair in certain
  communities. (disclosure is important so they can
  get the help they need.)

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• Patients are often willing to share their customs
  with those who seek to understand them.

• In some communities use of Contraceptives is
  forbidden leading to many unwanted pregnancies.
• In some communities the extended family has
  significant influence.
• Mental behaviours that indicate lack of self
  control will bring shame on family.
• Patients will refrain / be reluctant to discuss
  symptoms.
• Injection ( some communities believe that unless
  an injection is administered they have not been
  treated properly.
• Respect for authorities. (agree to treatment but
  not follow).
• Time Culture ( In some communities being late for
  an appointment is not seen as a problem as long
  as they turn up)

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• Specific health needs presented by asylum seekers
  and refugees that nurses needs to be aware of

• Many have physical problems that affects their
  day to day life.
• Anxiety and Depression
• Social Isolation as a result of separation from
  families/children.
• War and Imprisonment
• Physical and Sexual violence.
• Witnessing Violence to others.
• Traumatic Bereavement.
• Complications from injuries as a result of
  torture and violence.
• Female Genital Mutilation victims.
• HIV/AIDS
• Pregnant Women (Rape Victims).
• Starvation
• Genocide
• Victims of domestic and sexual abuse.

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Hearing the Voice of Refugees in Policy and
Practice
VOICE EMPOWERMENT A Trans-national Network
Hearing the voices of Refugees in Policy and
Practice in the European Union for the European
Commission, 2000 Evidence shows that those who
are the target beneficiaries of a policy must be
a part of the process through which they receive
those benefits in order for that policy to be
effective.