Capability Gap
[1.CGF.11]
Health risks related to the daily operations of practitioners
Background
Public health considerations such as pandemics and infectious diseases present risks that have yet to be dealt with and challenges that effect practitioners’ operations. Moreover, practitioners operating at the external EU borders are exposed to an increased health risk. Before travelling to third world countries visitors are requested to have additional vaccination. Quite often, practitioners have to assist migrants from these countries using “typical personnel protective equipment”.
October 2020 Workshop Findings
Practitioners operate in a highly stressful environment, often amid humanitarian crises. They face health hazards related to both psychological and physical health, two aspects closely inter-related in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has made a huge impact on the psychology of practitioners, due to the continuous stress they are subjected to. Since immigrants are held in quarantine for several days, the risk of virus contamination is high among practitioners. Given the precarious situation that the pandemic creates, more psychological and psycho-social support and improved sanitary conditions are needed in order to increase the practitioners’ resilience. In addition, there is a need for training, psychological support and special capabilities for individuals working with unaccompanied minors and for the minors themselves who suffer high levels of stress living apart from their families.
