Researchers from various global agencies delve into significant connections between mobility and individual health status
The Volkswagen Foundation, an independent, non-profit foundation under private law based in Hannover, Germany, has announced the funding of five new research projects aimed at investigating the connections between mobility and global health. The projects, which collectively aim to bridge disciplinary divides and create sustainable, equitable solutions to health challenges linked to global mobility and migration trends, will receive a total of around 7.1 million euros.
The head of communications at the Volkswagen Foundation, Jens Rehlaender, can be reached via email at [his email address] or by phone at [his phone number]. More information about the foundation and its projects can be found on its website at [the provided link].
One of the projects, "Hitch-hiking East Africa: Spread of Artemisinin-Resistant Malaria through Mosquito and Human Mobility," is investigating the spread of Artemisinin resistance in four neighboring countries of the Great Lakes region in East Africa. The research team will collect data, model disease transmission, and collaborate with local partners to implement targeted interventions and an early warning system.
Another project, "TRANS-WELL: From Health System Transformation to Well-Being Ecosystems: Integrating Volatile Mobility Settings into Inclusive Development Pathways," is exploring the interplay of migration and health in crisis areas. Using case studies from Mozambique, the Dominican Republic, and Thailand, the team aims to develop inclusive health system planning tools based on social justice and sustainable development principles.
"Global Health Diasporas: How Mobile Health Professionals Abroad Improve Health of Minority Groups in Communities in Colombia, Ghana, and Sri Lanka," is a third project that is investigating how health professionals living abroad can bring about positive changes in these countries, focusing on societal and social factors influencing their return and exchange with local communities.
The "Indonesia Nurse Migration Project" is studying Indonesia’s role as a major exporter of nurses and assessing how migration policies affect the country’s healthcare training and labor market to inform global policy and address local needs.
Lastly, "Nexus4Her: Addressing the Nexus: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Mental Health of Young Refugee and Migrant Women in Ecuador and Uganda," is addressing the sexual and reproductive health and mental health of young refugee and migrant women in these countries, designing trauma-sensitive strategies to improve health literacy, healthcare access, and community awareness.
The projects consist of partner institutions in high-, middle-, and low-income countries and work closely with local communities, authorities, and NGOs in Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. The Volkswagen Foundation exclusively grants funds to scientific institutions.
The press release about the funded projects is available online, and the Volkswagen Foundation newsletter provides news, events, funding opportunities, and deadlines. Over the course of more than 60 years, the foundation has supported around 36,000 projects with a total of over 7.5 billion euros, making it one of the largest non-profit foundations under private law in Germany. As such, it counts among the largest private German science-promoting foundations and one of the largest foundations of its kind in the country.
- The project titled "Nexus4Her: Addressing the Nexus: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Mental Health of Young Refugee and Migrant Women in Ecuador and Uganda" is a part of the Volkswagen Foundation's focus on the science-led exploration of medical-conditions, particularly those affecting young refugee and migrant women.
- The "Indonesia Nurse Migration Project" delves into the intersection of science, health-and-wellness, and space-and-astronomy, by examining the impact of mobility and global labor market policies on nursing services and healthcare access in low-income countries like Indonesia.
