The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global research initiative aimed at strengthening evidence and shaping policies to address the growing health challenges associated with climate change, migration and displacement.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the initiative was inaugurated with the participation of more than 300 experts from over 75 countries, bringing together researchers, policymakers and development partners to examine one of the world’s most pressing yet under explored public health issues.
WHO noted that although the relationship between climate change, migration and health is increasingly recognised, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding how climate induced mobility affects people’s health, wellbeing and access to healthcare services.
The organisation explained that climate change continues to intensify the factors driving migration and displacement, particularly among communities already facing poverty, conflict and limited capacity to adapt to environmental changes.
Speaking during the inauguration, Dr. Santino Severoni, Head of WHO Health and Migration, stressed that addressing research gaps is essential to achieving health equity and universal health coverage.
He said migrant and displaced populations must be integrated into health planning from the outset rather than treated as an afterthought if countries are to build resilient and inclusive healthcare systems.
To address these challenges, WHO introduced the Global Research Prioritisation Exercise (GRPE), the first thematic initiative under its Global Research Agenda on Health, Migration and Displacement.
The organisation said the exercise was developed through a comprehensive and participatory process involving literature reviews, stakeholder consultations, technical discussions and an online prioritisation survey that engaged 59 experts from academia, government institutions and development organisations across different regions of the world.
According to WHO, the research agenda identifies priority areas under three major themes: social determinants of health, universal health coverage, and health emergencies, alongside two cross cutting areas focusing on health outcomes and data, as well as policy and interventions.
The exercise also produced a global action roadmap designed to guide future research, policymaking and practical interventions.
Among the key priorities identified are tackling social inequalities, improving access to healthcare services, strengthening preparedness for climate related emergencies, enhancing migration sensitive health data systems and expanding research on mental health, maternal and child health, chronic diseases and the long term effects of climate related displacement.
Head of WHO Climate Change, Energy and Air Quality, Dr. Diarmid Campbell Lendrum, said climate change is already affecting the health and mobility of millions of people globally, making stronger evidence essential for developing effective and equitable health policies.
He emphasised that improving research will help governments design climate resilient healthcare systems capable of protecting vulnerable migrant and displaced populations.
Participants at the inauguration also called for stronger collaboration across the climate, migration and health sectors, stressing the need for improved data collection, community centred research and evidence based policies that reflect the realities faced by affected populations.
WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting member states and partners in translating the research priorities into practical action through stronger partnerships, capacity building and policy relevant research.
The organisation said embedding the roadmap into national and regional strategies would help ensure that scientific evidence drives decision making, strengthens climate resilient health systems and advances health equity for migrants and displaced communities worldwide.
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