Health care professional guidance for Migrants

We applied for the HealthMi Project to address critical gaps in migrants' access to healthcare services and information, which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Migrants often struggle to understand their health rights and receive inadequate support from healthcare systems, resulting in significant inequalities. HealthMi responds to these needs by focusing on the promotion of health literacy, reducing barriers to healthcare, and addressing psycho-social and chronic health issues. Our project aligns with WHO's Global Action Plan and EU policies, aiming to develop a Code of Conduct for Health Literacy, an in-service training program for healthcare professionals, a hybrid training curriculum for migrants, and a multilingual gateway. These resources empower migrants to better navigate healthcare services, while healthcare professionals gain skills to offer culturally competent care. The project directly impacts over 5,000 people, fostering respect for diversity and enhancing migrant integration.

The HealthMi Project aimed to improve healthcare access for migrants by fostering intercultural competence among healthcare professionals and enhancing collaboration with local communities. The main objectives were: Foster Respect for Diversity: Promote intercultural competence and understanding in healthcare to ensure inclusive services for migrants. Facilitate Access to Healthcare: Develop tools like the Code of Conduct, Training Program, Hybrid Curriculum, and Multilingual Gateway to reduce barriers migrants face in accessing healthcare. Engage Local Communities: Involve healthcare professionals, local citizens, NGOs, and authorities to ensure the project’s sustainability and build mutual understanding. Increase Awareness and Capacity: Raise awareness of migrant healthcare needs and build capacities of healthcare professionals and stakeholders. Enhance Transnational Cooperation: Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration among partners from different countries to improve migrant healthcare services. These objectives aimed to create a sustainable impact by building inclusive healthcare systems responsive to migrant needs.

The HealthMi Project implemented several activities focusing on the development of innovative intellectual outputs to enhance healthcare access for migrants and equip healthcare professionals with the skills needed to support diverse communities. The development of these outputs involved collaboration across partners, pilot testing, and targeted training programs. 1. Development of Intellectual Outputs Code of Conduct for Health Literacy (R1): This intellectual output aimed to develop guidelines for healthcare professionals to ensure accessible and equitable healthcare services for migrants. The development process included desk research, best practices collection, interviews, and surveys with healthcare professionals in each partner country. The Code of Conduct addressed the health challenges faced by migrants and was developed in collaboration with stakeholders to reflect the needs of migrants effectively. It was subsequently translated into all partner languages to ensure broad accessibility. In-Service Training Program for Healthcare Professionals (R2): The training program was designed to enhance the capacity of healthcare professionals to provide culturally competent care to migrants. Training focused on mental health and intercultural competence, ensuring professionals were equipped to address the psychological and health needs of migrants. Partners conducted pilot testing of the training materials, allowing healthcare professionals to provide feedback, which was used to refine the program. Open calls were issued to healthcare organizations, and professionals participated in workshops and training sessions facilitated by project partners. Hybrid Training Curriculum for Migrants (R3): The curriculum aimed to empower migrants by providing them with essential knowledge to navigate local healthcare systems and improve their health literacy. The curriculum consisted of nine modules covering topics like healthcare services, mental health, women and children's health, and access to local healthcare facilities. A Learning Outcomes Framework was developed to guide the structure and content of the modules, ensuring that the curriculum met the specific needs of migrants. The curriculum was developed collaboratively by partners and was also translated to be accessible to migrant populations across the partner countries. HealthMi Multilingual Gateway (R4): The Gateway was a digital platform developed to centralize all training resources and materials in multiple languages. It aimed to provide easy access for both migrants and healthcare professionals to all project resources. The Gateway was designed to be an interactive tool for healthcare professionals, social workers, and migrants, offering contact information for healthcare services, training materials, and details about the local healthcare system. The Gateway also served as a networking platform for stakeholders, allowing professionals and migrants to connect, share experiences, and access health-related resources. 2. Pilot Testing and Refinement of Intellectual Outputs Pilot Testing: Each of the intellectual outputs was subjected to pilot testing across partner countries to ensure their effectiveness and relevance. Feedback from participants—including healthcare professionals and migrants—was gathered and analyzed to improve the quality of the resources. For instance, the Code of Conduct was evaluated for its practical applicability by healthcare professionals, and changes were made to make it more user-friendly and relevant to real-world healthcare settings. The Hybrid Training Curriculum was also tested with migrants to assess the clarity and usefulness of the content, ensuring it addressed the specific challenges they faced. 3. Stakeholder Involvement in Development Local Stakeholder Engagement: Stakeholders—including healthcare professionals, social workers, NGOs, and migrant centers—played an important role in the development of intellectual outputs. They provided insights through interviews, focus groups, and participation in workshops. This ensured that the outputs were developed based on the actual needs of the target groups. Involvement of Migrants: Migrants were directly involved in the pilot testing and development of the training curriculum, providing essential feedback on the cultural relevance, clarity, and accessibility of the materials. Their involvement ensured that the curriculum was tailored to their needs, particularly in accessing local healthcare services. 4. Learning, Teaching, and Training Activity (LTTA) A key activity in the development phase was the LTTA, which brought together professionals from partner countries for cross-cultural learning. This activity facilitated the exchange of ideas, best practices, and experiences related to healthcare for migrants. During the LTTA, participants also contributed to refining the intellectual outputs, particularly the training programs and the Code of Conduct, by providing feedback based on their experiences and local contexts. 5. Multiplier Events to Promote Intellectual Outputs Multiplier Events—specifically, HealthMi Awareness Conferences—were organized in each partner country to promote the intellectual outputs. These events involved a range of stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, migrants, local authorities, NGOs, and the general public. During these events, partners presented the Code of Conduct, Training Programs, Hybrid Curriculum, and Multilingual Gateway, emphasizing their purpose and practical applications. The events also provided opportunities for participants to interact with the outputs, offering suggestions and feedback. Conclusion The development of the intellectual outputs in the HealthMi Project focused on creating sustainable, accessible, and culturally appropriate resources for both healthcare professionals and migrants. These outputs were designed collaboratively by partners and involved direct input from stakeholders and target groups to ensure they met real-world needs. The pilot testing, stakeholder involvement, and LTTA contributed to refining these outputs, resulting in high-quality resources aimed at improving healthcare access for migrants and fostering intercultural competence among healthcare professionals.

The HealthMi Project achieved a number of concrete outputs and results that contributed to its main objective of improving healthcare access for migrants and enhancing the skills of healthcare professionals. The key results include four intellectual outputs, project management activities, and dissemination efforts: Concrete Outputs Code of Conduct for Health Literacy (R1): The project developed a Code of Conduct aimed at raising awareness among healthcare professionals and ensuring easy access to local healthcare services for migrants. The code was created based on national data collection, including desk research, questionnaires, interviews, and best practices from each partner country. It was translated into partner languages and designed to help healthcare professionals provide more inclusive services, addressing the health literacy needs of migrants. In-Service Training Program for Healthcare Professionals (R2): The training program provided healthcare professionals with the skills needed to address the specific needs of migrants, including mental health, psychological support, and healthcare navigation. Open calls were published through local authorities and migrant centers to recruit healthcare professionals to participate in the program. The training focused on enhancing intercultural competence and the ability to communicate effectively with migrant populations. Hybrid Training Curriculum for Migrants (R3): A Hybrid Training Curriculum consisting of nine modules was developed to empower migrants with the knowledge needed to access healthcare services in their host countries. The curriculum covered topics such as health literacy, mental health, women and children's health, and navigating healthcare systems. It was designed with a Learning Outcomes Framework and was implemented by each partner in their local context, following guidelines from the curriculum leader. For R2 and R3 there were created educational training videos in all partners' languages (GR, ES, PL, IT), in English and Arabic and Farsi. HealthMi Multilingual Gateway (R4): The HealthMi Multilingual Gateway was developed as an interactive tool providing access to training resources, project activities, and healthcare information in multiple languages, The Gateway enabled migrants, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to find health-related resources, psychological support, and network opportunities. It facilitated innovative ways for migrants to connect with healthcare services, and acted as a hub for stakeholders interested in migrant health. Project Management and Quality Assurance Results Project Work Plan (PWP): A comprehensive plan was developed to guide project activities, ensuring effective coordination and implementation. Partner Meetings and Conference Calls: The project organized a kick-off meeting, two transnational meetings, and a final meeting to ensure ongoing alignment among partners. Progress and Quality Reports: Two progress reports and two executive quality reports were drafted to monitor and evaluate the project’s activities. The reports assessed both qualitative and quantitative indicators to measure progress. Project Impact Plan and Impact Assessment: A Project Impact Plan was created to evaluate the impact of project activities. Impact assessments were conducted at two key points (months 12 and 24) to measure the effectiveness of the outputs and identify areas for improvement. Dissemination and Exploitation Results Dissemination and Exploitation Strategy: The project developed a comprehensive strategy, which included defining target groups and stakeholders, identifying key messages, and specifying dissemination and communication methods at the national and European levels. Communication Templates and Materials: Leaflets, posters, and roll-up banners were designed and translated into partner languages to ensure effective communication with diverse target groups. Monitoring Dissemination and Exploitation Activities: The project closely monitored dissemination activities to assess their reach and impact, ensuring that the project’s value was communicated effectively at local, national, and European levels. Multiplier Events: Five HealthMi Awareness Conferences were organized in each partner country, involving migrants, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders. These events helped present the project’s outputs, gather feedback, and raise awareness about migrant health challenges and solutions. The project identified and engaged stakeholders from healthcare, migrant communities, and public authorities. This engagement ensured that the project's outputs were relevant and that there was buy-in from those working directly with migrants. All the results are translated in partner's languages (GR, ES, PL, IT), in English and in Arabic and Farsi.