"Pre-HIRM"- Health outcomes among internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in conflict-affected areas of Myanmar post-military coup

The main HIRM project aims to address the health disparities among internally displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees worsen by Myanmar's ongoing conflicts and political instability. This pre-project HIRM is preparing for a major application focused on sustainable health interventions, aiming for the 2025 global health call from the Research Council of Norway. It supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which promotes good health and well-being. Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has experienced a significant increase in displacement, with a collapsed health system leaving millions in need, including 3 million IDPs. This situation highlights the urgent need for independent and collaborative health research. The pre-project activities over three months include i) forming a consortium with academic and healthcare institutions in Myanmar and Norway, ii) conducting workshops and meetings to align project goals and develop tailored research methodologies, iii) engaging stakeholders, and iv) developing a detailed project proposal. These efforts aim to lay a strong foundation for the main HIRM project, enhancing health policy and intervention strategies to support sustainable healthcare improvements and uphold human rights and democracy. The project brings together the expertise of Norwegian academics and the local knowledge of Myanmar's health workers and organizations. This ensures the project is relevant and can really improve healthcare for IDPs and refugees. By focusing on these health disparities, the project not only meets UiT’s strategic goals but also significantly supports several SDGs, especially SDG 3 for health, SDG 10 for reducing inequalities, and SDG 16 for peace and justice.