Background
Dementia is a critical and growing global health concern for refugees and migrants, as the increasing number of older individuals in these populations exacerbates the burden of this non-communicable disease. There is an urgent need for migrant-inclusive health policies and practices to ensure that refugees and migrants living with dementia receive timely and equitable care.
On 31 March 2025, WHO will host a high-level webinar to present the findings of the sixth report in the Global Evidence Review on Health and Migration (GEHM) series, focusing on dementia among refugees and migrants. The report explores global challenges and public health impacts for these populations, offering key considerations and priority actions to guide policymakers in addressing these issues at both national and global levels.
The GEHM on dementia was produced by WHO Health and Migration, in collaboration with the WHO Department of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use (MSD), and various partners, led by researchers from the Sapienza University of Rome, the Italian National Institute of Health, and expert advisors from the Immidem Study Group, the European Consortium on Cross-Cultural Neuropsychology, and the BEAD Study Group.
Launched on 17 June 2021, the GEHM series is an evidence-informed, normative product designed to address policy questions on migration-related public health priorities. The series also aims to fill knowledge gaps and propose policy considerations on the health status and health policies related to refugees and migrants by summarizing the best available global evidence.
Audience
Participation is open to everyone. This event may be most relevant for policymakers, health sector professionals, including ministry representatives, health managers, healthcare providers, academic institutions, and other key stakeholders.
Agenda
Opening remarks
Chair – Santino Severoni, Director, WHO Health and Migration
Opening address
- Ailan Li, Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage, Healthier Populations, WHO
- Jérôme Salomon, Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage, Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases, WHO
Technical panel session
- GEHM presentation, Marco Canevelli, GEHM on Dementia primary investigator, Sapienza University of Rome, Italian National Institute of Health
- Priority actions for improving service delivery and informing policymaking for refugees and migrants living with dementia, Katrin Seeher, Mental Health Specialist, Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use (MSD), WHO
Intervention to share lived experience
- Emily Ong, Board Member of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and the SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network member, Past Board Member of Dementia Alliance International, Singapore
Panel session - Identifying the evidence on dementia in refugees and migrants and translating it to policy and practice
Co-moderated by: Katrin Seeher, Mental Health Specialist, MSD, WHO and Miriam Orcutt, Technical Officer, Health and Migration, WHO HQ
Panellists:
- Clara Calia, Senior Lecturer, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh
- Marco Canevelli, GEHM on Dementia primary investigator, Sapienza University of Rome, Italian National Institute of Health
- Wendy Weidner, Director of Research and Publications, Alzheimer’s Disease International, ADI
Way forward and closing remarks
- Dévora Kestel, Director, MSD, WHO
- Santino Severoni, Director, WHO Health and Migration