21 Listopad 2022
Snapshots from the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative in Greece
https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/snapshots-rm-child-health-initiative-greece
Over 3000 children and 2300 mothers benefited from access to services, including psychosocial support, GBV prevention and support and mother and childcare services – almost three times as many as originally targeted for the Initiative. 3600 refugee and migrant children and parents received UNICEF-supported information on GBV prevention and response, immunization, maternal and child health, and mental health and psychosocial support services – more than twice as many as originally targeted. Implementing partners: Caritas, Diotima, ELIX, Iliaktida, The Melissa Network, Metadrasi, Solidarity Now An independent evaluation of the ‘RM Child-Health’ Initiative has taken stock of its impact in Greece since 2020. [2] It has confirmed that the Initiative’s flexibility and its focus on system strengthening has supported the expansion of capacity in situations where these systems have been over-stretched. This could be seen on the island of Lesvos, Greece, where human resources in state-run facilities have faced serious constraints in meeting the demand for health care, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and where partnership with Reception and Identification Centres has proved crucial. All training delivered under the ‘RM Child-Health Initiative’ was delivered in a way that was relevant for participants and responsive to their needs. The starting point was their existing knowledge and experience, aiming to build their sense of ownership and engagement. They were also consulted to assess what kind of support to prioritize. This process revealed challenging areas that were added to the training: working with vulnerable children; professional stress and burnout; and the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation. The training was also flexible, incorporating a module on how to deliver training online during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the pandemic, implementing partners used a hybrid approach to reach refugees and migrants during lockdowns. They piloted community-based activities at four sites, and all service provision shifted to remote programming via telephone and internet. In camps, UNICEF’s partners complemented remote delivery with tent-to-tent visits. [3] Partners created WhatsApp social groups for different age groups and shared ideas for coping with lockdowns. [4] Simple and engaging visuals on COVID-19 prevention and on how to maintain good nutrition during the pandemic were developed and shared. Child-friendly information posters and stickers on COVID-19 prevention are now on display wherever refugees and migrants congregate. Stakeholders have also reported greater awareness of child nutrition and the importance of breastfeeding. In Lesvos, the needs assessment for the training found that kits for mothers contained breastmilk substitutes. A set of training materials on the benefits of breastfeeding was produced, including a ‘truth or myth’ game for use with pregnant or lactating women. The training created a new network of people who have kept in touch, with some asking for more information. Implementing partners have noticed that training participants have started to collaborate in the camps, with midwives and volunteers, for example, working together. In one camp, there have been no requests for breastmilk substitutes since the training. [5] The Initiative has supported extensive work on gender-based violence, including the mapping of GBV service providers and referral mechanisms to state-run shelters and counselling centres. The work of UNICEF’s implementing partner, Melissa, has been notable: delivering mental health and psychosocial services (MHPSS) through group therapy. This approach, which built trust, proved vital during the COVID-19 pandemic because it could be transferred smoothly to online delivery to maintain women’s engagement. A separate grant provided women with tablets, which they often called ‘Melissa’s eye in their house’, saying that it made them feel safer. Melissa also developed a code women could use to ask for help. Women felt secure enough to share their experiences, knowing that they would get the right support. This resulted in a high rate of self-disclosure. Women were referred quickly without having to complete extensive questionnaires. Instead, a team of highly skilled psychologists and therapists identified GBV survivors and provided follow up. This story is part of the Project ‘Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children’s Health Status in Southern and South Eastern Europe’, Co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union (the ‘RM Child-Health’ initiative). It represents the views of the author only and is her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains. [1] Names changed to protect privacy. [2] IOD PARC , Evaluation of the UNICEF Project: Strengthening Refugee and Migrant Children’s Health Status in Southern and South-Eastern Europe. [3] UNICEF CO staff. [4] UNICEF CO staff. [5] IP
