Mobility and health in the Global South: :
1.6 million euros for transdisciplinary project

The international and transdisciplinary research team, led by Professor Dr Uwe Hunger from Fulda University of Applied Sciences, includes Dr Sascha Krannich from Justus Liebig University Giessen, Professor Dr Martin Nyaaba Adokiya from the University for Development Studies in Ghana, Professor Rajendra Surenthirakumaran from the University of Jaffna in Sri Lanka and Professor Dr Andres Cubillos from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia.

The researchers will focus on the mobility of healthcare professionals and its impact on the countries of the Global South. This is because many countries in the Global South, particularly in rural regions, are struggling with a shortage of skilled labour in the healthcare system, while at the same time large numbers of medical professionals are migrating to wealthy countries. This "medical brain drain" is weakening the domestic healthcare system.

But there are opportunities: return migration, knowledge transfer and investment can help to strengthen the healthcare systems in the countries of origin. The project analyses how health professionals living abroad can bring about positive change in Colombia, Ghana and Sri Lanka. The focus is on societal and social factors that influence the return of these professionals and on dialogue with local communities.

The Fulda research project is one of a total of five projects supported by the "Transdisciplinary Approaches to Mobility and Global Health" funding initiative. The funded projects are all characterised by their international and transdisciplinary collaboration, scientific originality and social significance.

"Global health is inextricably linked to issues of mobility - think of flight, labour migration or cross-border disease risks. This complexity can only be grasped together: across disciplinary boundaries, in international dialogue and together with practice partners," explains Dr Nora Kottmann from the Volkswagen Foundation. The programme supports outstanding scientific projects that research social, health and ethical challenges in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and develop sustainable solutions. Research teams from different income countries work in an interdisciplinary manner and cooperate closely with local communities, authorities and NGOs worldwide.

To the press release of the Volkswagen Foundation