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What We Do Introduction Overview Building Awareness Delivering Support |
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| Healthcare We tend to think of health mainly as a function of biology, but the strongest determinants of health are actually the social, political and economic forces in our lives. Health is not only the absence of disease or infirmity but a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing. How healthy we are depends enormously on our access to nutritious food, clean water and medical care. Equally it depends on the level of violence and stress in our lives, on how much and under what conditions we work, and on the opportunities we have for love, pleasure and fulfillment. Assessing the health needs of asylum seekers requires time. Our clients often come from cultures with radically different healthcare systems and present with a wide variety of concerns. In 2001, the BMA produced a guidance note: “because of the upheavals, family separation, traumas and social difficulties faced by many asylum seekers, they often have complex health problems. Some have been imprisoned or tortured prior to immigration, and many have lived in situations of poor healthcare provision in their own country.” We have considerable experience working with survivors of gross human rights violations from other cultures. Many have war related injuries. Many have been raped, or forced into slavery or trafficked. The concerns they have about the state of their health are considerable and well founded. They need reassurance, time to talk, and when required proper treatment. Our team of volunteers doctors are experts in neurology, orthopedics, psychiatry and general medicine. They spend time listening to our clients and helping them to articulate their health concerns. The team liaises with their colleagues in mainstream who are often stretched and welcome the assistance. Although we are not a primary healthcare provider, nor prescribe medication, we see it as our role to support GPs and healthcare specialists in the task of understanding and responding to our client's health needs. |
