SSKAPP Project in Lebanon - 2024
Project title: Skin and sexually transmitted infections KAP (knowledge, attitude and practice) survey and health promotion strategy using mobile and digital technologies in migrant populations] in Lebanon (PPRC-2020-15)-Phase 2
Partners: ILDS-IFD, Amel Association, Consultant Connect
Budget: 30.000 EUR
Funders: EADV - https://eadv.org/
We would also like to acknowledge the funding received from Ayuntamento de Villanueva de la Cañada in the sum of 3500 EUR in support of a capacity-building mission to Lebanon that will be organised as an additional project activity in 2025.
Duration of the project: 12 months
Description:
Lebanon is experiencing its most devastating social, economic, and financial catastrophe in decades. The financial crisis that started in October 2019, further exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19 and the Port of Beirut explosion in August 2020, had a disastrous impact on the country, with more than half of the population likely living below the poverty line. This is further compounded by the ongoing conflict in neighbouring war-torn Syria. According to the UN, Lebanon hosts the highest number of refugees per capita worldwide, especially in the Bekaa Valley. Approximately one in five people living in Lebanon is considered displaced and of the estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees, most are in the Bekaa Valley and 90% live in extreme poverty. Half of surveyed Syrian refugees are unable to access all their needed medication. The overcrowding and poor sanitation of refugee camps make their population particularly vulnerable to health problems, and skin conditions accounted for 41% of health complaints of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, including leishmaniasis, scabies, cholera, and skin infections. These infectious conditions constitute a significant public health concern as they can easily be transmitted and may necessitate systemic treatment to prevent complications such as deep tissue infections and glomerulonephritis, which carry significant morbidity and mortality. However, there is a lack of dermatology care provision with many dermatologists having fled Lebanon as well as a lack of medications. The need for dermatology clinical and educational support has been highlighted in multiple United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports. Health care workers are seeing a large number of dermatoses and specialist dermatology input is needed to help establish diagnoses and treatment given limited resources.
The SSKAPP Project Phase 2 addresses the need for training of local GPs to offer dermatological support to displaced populations and disadvantaged locals through the use of innovative tele-dermatology solutions.
Aims:
-To improve access to skin and sexual health in displaced populations and local disadvantaged Lebanese populations.
-To scale up knowledge and training of healthcare providers on common skin diseases and STIs.
-To expand interventions to Tripoli, the second-largest city in northern Lebanon.
Activities:
A0. Project coordination (Lead: Bridges2Health&Rights)
A1. Capacity building /training via the migrant health toolkit (Lead: MHWG-IFD): During a second field mission in Lebanon organized by Bridges2Health&Rights and the MHDWG-IFD in spring 2024, training will be delivered in the format of theoretical training and training-on-the-job to healthcare providers working with Amel (Amel Association International | Non-sectarian Lebanese NGO ) in intervention areas (Bekaa Valley and Tripoli).The training material will be based on the migrant health toolkit of the MHWG adapted to the local context. A dedicated session will be devoted to the use of a teledermatology app for teleconsultation of complex cases (see A2). The training and the mission will be supported by MHWG- IFD dedicated funds. Upon training completion, trainees will be able to identify and manage the most common skin conditions in the target population.
A2. A teledermatology service: A telederm service will be set up for complex cases (Consultant Connect platform and mobile app). The platform and the mobile app will help local healthcare providers trained during the mission with complex dermatological cases. Expert dermatologists from MHWG will provide on rotation asynchronous teleconsultations (Lead: Bridges2Health&Rights).
A3. Dermatological care: local resident dermatovenereologists from the Department of Dermatology at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and a liaison officer previously engaged as local champion in the project, will support and supervise on a monthly basis the local healthcare providers in Tripoli and the Bekaa Valley. A collaboration with AUB will be formalized with an MOU. Through this collaboration, AUB dermatology residents will gain experience in working with International Health Agencies, develop their professional skills and serve as local liaison for complex cases. Furthermore, the use of the teledermatology service will scale up the training of both local healthcare providers and dermatology residents, and guarantee the sustainability of the project. (Lead: Bridges2Health&Rights)
A4. Referrals to AUB:Complex dermatological cases will be referred to the AUB Dermatology Department for investigations and care (in kind or with nominal service fees as will be outlined in the MOU with AUB) (Lead: MHWG-IFD)
A5. Research: Data on skin diseases in Syrian refugees and local underserved populations in the Bekaa Valley and Tripoli will be collected during consultations (cross-sectional study on skin diseases in Syrian refugees and local Lebanese population) with the support of teledermatology services. (Lead: Bridges2Health&Rights).
A6. Health promotion:10 health promotion videos covering the topics of hygiene, sexual and reproductive health, sexual and gender based violence will be produced and recorded in local language. The videos will be disseminated through social media.
A7. Communication and dissemination of project outcomes:The project will be advertised at international congresses by members of the MHDWG-IFD. The research outcomes will be published in peer review journals.