Building Capacity in Crisis: Evaluating a Health Assistant Training Program for Young Rohingya Refugee Women

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Humanitarian Studies
• Public Health

Background:

• The Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh presents significant challenges, particularly for women and children lacking adequate healthcare and education.
• Insufficient resources exacerbate vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for sustainable maternal and child healthcare solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the pilot Health Assistant Training (HAT) program by the Hope Foundation for Women and Children in Bangladesh.
• To assess the program's impact on healthcare access and education for the Rohingya community.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative evaluation using semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and field observations.
• Thematic analysis of collected data to identify key themes and insights.

Main Results:

• The HAT Program demonstrated strong community acceptance and positive impacts on health assistant trainees.
• The program enhanced community well-being and highlighted potential for expansion.

Conclusions:

• The HAT Program significantly improves healthcare access, empowers women, and fosters community resilience among Rohingya refugees.
• The initiative serves as a replicable model for refugee health, education, and capacity-building in humanitarian contexts.