Launch of the new public health collaboration between the Irish Department of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Refugee and Migrant Health in the University of Limerick

This event celebrates the launch of an innovative new public health collaboration between the Irish Department of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Refugee and Migrant Health in the University of Limerick

Event Format: Round table discussion with the UL academics linked to the WHO Collaborating Centre, refugees and migrants and colleagues from the WHO Health and Migration Office in Europe.

Event Context: UL’s World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Participatory Health Research with Refugees and Migrants is a designated center of expertise that seeks to improve refugee and migrants’ meaningful involvement in health research.

The Centre is committed to ‘Participatory Health Research’ (PHR) which positions migrants and refugees as expert partners in the co-production of evidence about their health.

In the coming four years, the centre will collaborate with the Department of Health and WHO Health and Migration Programme to design a new Refugee and Migrant Health Partnership in Ireland, which is funded by the Department of Health.

The purpose of the partnership is to involve refugees and migrants directly in the development of public health policy.
The Center is led by Anne MacFarlane, Professor of Primary Healthcare Research in the School of Medicine in collaboration with Professor Helen Phelan, Director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and Professor Ailish Hannigan, Professor of Biomedical Statistics.

This pioneering center is focused on participatory and arts-based research with specific reference to health, migration and creative methods for research engagement with refugees, migrants, researchers, healthcare providers and policy makers.

Event Schedule:

9am: Background world music, networking refreshments & photo shoot

9.30am: Presidential welcome – Prof Kerstin Mey (UL)

9.40am: Opening remarks and partnership vision– Prof Anne MacFarlane (UL)

9.50am: Innovative Participatory Methods - Prof Helen Phelan (UL)

10.00: Roundtable discussion with refugees, migrants and advocates facilitated by Prof Ailish Hannigan (UL) and Mr. Ahmed Hassan (Doras)

10.45am Closing remarks– WHO Collaborating Centre & Department of Health

11am: Networking refreshment