Today on World Refugee Day we recognise those working on improving health outcomes for refugees and others who have been forcibly displaced from their countries as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations. Around the world, communities, schools, businesses, faith groups and people from all walks of life are taking big and small steps in solidarity with refugees. The theme for this year's World Refugee Day is #StepWithRefugees and we join with our colleagues around the world and challenge everyone to join together and take a step with refugees. We also take the opportunity to acknowledge RHD Action Small Grant recipient Dr Dorah Nampijah and her team working in Nakivale Refugee Camp in Uganda and provide a preview of the project to date and look forward to sharing a full report in the coming weeks.

Uganda hosts the third largest number of refugees in the world despite its own challenges, earning well-deserved praise from the international community. The more than one million displaced people are mainly from the surrounding countries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan where war and internal conflict threaten the safety and well-being of these populations.

It is in this spirit of Ugandan generosity and compassion that Dr Dorah Nampijja of the Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Department of Paediatrics conceived and conducted her RHD Action Small Grants Project to reach out to the Nakivale Refugee Settlement to raise community awareness and provide health worker education on the control and prevention of RHD.

For further information:
RHD Action Announces 2018 Small Grants Programme Recipients (Open Round)
Rheumatic Heart Disease Education and Awareness in Nakivale (Refugee Camp) – RHDEAN

Migrant and Refugee Health and Rheumatic Heart Disease | Information Brief (2019)
UN Refugee Agency | UNHCR (Global Trends 2018)