Objectives: Syria's protracted conflict has resulted in ideal conditions for the transmission of tuberculosis (TB) and the cultivation of drug-resistant strains. This paper compares TB control in Syria before and after the conflict using available data, examines the barriers posed by protracted conflict and those specific to Syria, and discusses what measures can be taken to address the control of TB in Syria. Results: Forced mass displacement and systematic violations of humanitarian law have resulted in overcrowding and the destruction of key infrastructure, leading to an increased risk of both drugsensitive and resistant TB, while restricting the ability to diagnose, trace contacts, treat, and follow-up. Pre-conflict, TB in Syria was officially reported at 22 per 100 000 population; the official figure for 2017 of 19 per 100 000 is likely a vast underestimate given the challenges and barriers to case detection. Limited diagnostics also affect the diagnosis of multidrug-and rifampicin-resistant TB, reported as comprising 8.8% of new diagnoses in 2017. Conclusions: The control of TB in Syria requires a multipronged, tailored, and pragmatic approach to improve timely diagnosis, increase detection, stop transmission, and mitigate the risk of drug resistance. Solutions must also consider vulnerable populations such as imprisoned and besieged communities where the risk of drug resistance is particularly high, and must recognize the limitations of national programming. Strengthening capacity to control TB in Syria with particular attention to these factors will positively impact other parallel conditions; this is key as attention turns to post-conflict reconstruction.
H umanitarian crises are ever growing and represent a major global health challenge. Political instability and conflict have resulted in record numbers of people being displaced from their homes. In addition, natural disasters are on the rise. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that >65 million people have been displaced worldwide (1). Health care during emergency response has understandably focused on trauma, infectious diseases, and other acute conditions. Chronic diseases have historically been given low priority, especially during natural disasters, which are often of short duration. However, as humanitarian crises become widespread and prolonged, chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are becoming increasingly important. There are numerous publications on natural disasters and their consequences on the lives of people with diabetes (2,3). However, there are limited data on diabetes during manmade disasters. War and conflict present serious challenges for patients, health care providers (HCPs), and humanitarian workers. Furthermore, these crises often arise in developing countries where national disaster plans may not exist and local resources for health care are already exhausted. Worldwide, various conflicts affect people living with diabetes, but in
Collaborative approaches to supporting the health of refugees and other newcomer populations in their resettlement country are needed to address the complex medical and social challenges they may experience after arrival. Refugee health professionals within the Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers (SRHP)—the largest medical society dedicated to refugee health in North America—have expressed interest in greater research collaborations across SRHP membership and a need for guidance in conducting ethical research on refugee health. This article describes a logic model framework for planning the SRHP Research, Evaluation, and Ethics Committee. A logic model was developed to outline the priorities, inputs, outputs, outcomes, assumptions, external factors, and evaluation plan for the committee. The short-term outcomes include (1) establish professional standards in refugee health research, (2) support evaluation of existing refugee health structures and programs, and (3) establish and disseminate an ethical framework for refugee health research. The SRHP Research, Evaluation, and Ethics Committee found the logic model to be an effective planning tool. The model presented here could support the planning of other research committees aimed at helping to achieve health equity for resettled refugee populations.
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