The IGHNx: Global Health Reimagined event was held by the Irish Global Health Network, co-hosted by the HSE Global Health Programme, on the 13th of February in the Printworks Event and Exhibition Centre in Dublin Castle. The Irish Global Health Network is an independent network of people who are concerned with health inequities and issues that impact the health and development of populations at a global level. The event provided a platform for healthcare professionals to come together and engage in meaningful discussions about the pressing issues impacting global health.
Attending this event was an incredible opportunity, I was both excited and grateful to experience this conference as a part of my internship at TASC. As a third year college student, I don't often have the chance to engage with professionals, so being able to connect and speak with individuals from different education and career backgrounds was a brilliant experience. I was most excited about hearing the firsthand experience from the speakers. Reading through the list of speakers and their discussion topics immediately intrigued me. The range of issues covered - from broad challenges in global health to highly specific concerns - were fascinating and thought-provoking. Being able to attend this event at this stage in my education is a unique experience: one that I don't take for granted.
Opening Remarks: A Call for Resilience in Global Health
The day kicked off with opening remarks from Caoimhe de Barra, the CEO of Trócaire, who addressed the complex political landscape surrounding global health. She spoke candidly about the impact of the Trump administration’s policies on global healthcare and the growing concerns shared by her colleagues and other professionals in the field. However, Caoimhe finished her speech with optimism, emphasizing the need for resilience in the face of uncertainty. She emphasized the vital role healthcare professionals have as advocates for a healthier and more just world. As Caoimhe finished her speech, I felt a sense of hope rather than disheartenment about the future of global healthcare and global politics.
Key Topics and Discussions
The event brought together a diverse group of speakers who explored a wide range of critical global health topics. The talks covered topics surrounding trauma-informed care, multilingualism, HIV awareness, autism advocacy, universal health coverage, ecological grief and many more.
Trauma-Informed Healthcare: Addressing the Invisible Barriers
Aoibhinn Walsh, a consultant pediatrician, shared her experiences with the visible and invisible barriers that children and families in inner-city Dublin have in accessing trauma informed healthcare. She recounted some of her experiences with children who were suffering from unresolved physical health issues as previous doctors had overlooked the impact underlying trauma, mental health challenges, and their living circumstances had on the children’s physical health. By addressing these deeper underlying causes, she was able to help resolve their health issues. Aoibhinn advocates for healthcare systems to rethink their approach to diagnosis and treatment, ensuring that care is more holistic and addresses the needs of marginalized communities.
An aim of TASC’s health stream is to research and examine the connection between living in homeless or temporary accommodation and a person's physical and mental health. And to develop solutions that protect vulnerable and marginalized individuals while also ensuring that homeless and temporary accommodations are safer and more supportive environments. This is why Aoibhinn’s talk and experiences were something I was intrigued by before the event.
Aoibhinn’s work with children and families in inner city Dublin provides valuable insight into the links between underlying trauma and housing instability, and a person’s overall physical well-being. This aligns closely with TASC’s research in the area, particularly its work with the Dublin City Community Co-operative’s Healthy Communities Project (HCP). The HCP was established to address health inequalities in inner city Dublin through targeted, evidence-based initiatives. In 2023, TASC conducted an evaluation of the HCP to assess its impact, followed by a 2024 evaluation of the HCP’s Social Prescribing Programme, examining its effectiveness in supporting the community.
Healthcare Access and Social Norms in the Global South
James Swarray spoke about the effects entrenched norms and behaviours have on peoples access to healthcare in the Global South. He delved into the invisible barriers people in the Global South have to good health, including religion, gender norms, social norms. James works alongside GOAL Global to bring awareness and ensure people in the Global South have a better understanding of healthcare and practises. But he acknowledges that oppression, stigma, and beliefs still influence people's access to healthcare, especially women.
James’s work with GOAL Global is particularly interesting as GOAL and TASC are similar in their mission of protecting and empowering marginalised and vulnerable communities. GOAL partners with vulnerable communities to strengthen the systems they rely on, fostering resilience and overall well-being. Whereas TASC develops policies and solutions based on evidence-based research to drive progressive change.
The Impact of Monolingualism on Global Healthcare
Ralph Hurley O’Dwyer discussed the domination of monolingualism in global healthcare, an issue that seems small but has a dangerous impact on people’s access to healthcare and patient care. Monolingualism, the ability to speak only one language, has a devastating effect on global healthcare as it affects the ability of healthcare workers to communicate with their patients. Ralph stated that this miscommunication is the difference between understanding and confusion, and life or death. Patients that do not speak the main language, usually English, do not have access to timely, accurate healthcare in their language. Another risk is that misinformation thrives in a healthcare system that is monolinguistic.
TASC often works with people experiencing homelessness and people residing in International Protection Accommodation Services where not being able to speak the language can be a barrier to accessing healthcare. An area of interest and ongoing research in TASC is examining immigrant healthcare needs in Ireland, and how, as Ralph said, language barriers can be an obstacle to quality care.
Ralph encourages healthcare professionals to learn some of the local language when working in an area where their first language is not spoken. This helps ensure that all voices are heard, as monolingualism can exclude and oppress those who speak a minority language.
Trauma-Informed Care in War Zones: A Culturally Sensitive Approach
Talha AlAli is a Palestinian psychotherapist who advocates for trauma informed care and mental health advocacy in war zones. Trauma informed care has been a key topic of discussion on a global scale. In the Irish context, the need for trauma informed services for marginalised services has come up in a number of the projects that TASC has conducted in the community: trauma informed mental health services.
Talha spoke about the invisible and silent wound that is trauma, and how it can seep into every aspect of a person's life if it is not cared for. Traditional psychotherapy can often be influenced by eurocentrism, leading to culturally mismatched, stigmatised or not accessible mental health care for marginalised groups. He discussed the concept of cultural humility in psychotherapy, an approach that fosters understanding and respect for diverse cultural identities, encouraging individuals to recognize their own biases, acknowledge power dynamics, and accept the limitations of their cultural knowledge. Talha explains that cultural humility allows people's experiences to be understood through their own cultural lens rather than through a Western perspective, creating an open and respectful space for trauma informed mental health care.
TASC’s Role in Addressing Health Inequalities
Attending the event reshaped my understanding of global health, broadening my perspective of the issues and solutions surrounding it. The speakers highlighted hidden barriers – social norms, cultural bias, trauma, and language – that have a serious impact on a person's access to quality healthcare. Their insights challenged my previous assumptions, deepening my awareness of the complexities within global health. It not only changed my perspective of global healthcare, but also of the healthcare system in Ireland. Hearing firsthand experiences from not only medical professionals but also from people who had experience being a patient within the Irish healthcare system, I realised how deep rooted some of these issues are within our healthcare system. Work needs to be done both from the research point of view and the medical point of view in order to provide healthcare that is inclusive, trauma-informed, and genuinely accessible to everyone. I have no doubt that the knowledge I have learned will help me immensely in my internship at TASC. I have a renewed sense of hope and ambition for the future of the Irish healthcare system and the global healthcare system.
Attending the event reshaped my understanding of global healthcare, expanding my perspective on both the challenges and the solutions. The speakers highlighted often-overlooked barriers that significantly impact people's access to quality healthcare. Their insights challenged my previous assumptions, deepening my awareness of the complexities within global health. What stood out to me the most when reflecting on the event and the issues discussed is that these challenges are not just global issues but they are also deeply embedded within the Irish healthcare system. Hearing firsthand accounts from both medical professionals and patients in Ireland made me realise just how entrenched these barriers are. And addressing them requires action on multiple fronts - through research, medical practice, and systemic reform - to create a healthcare system that is truly inclusive, trauma-informed, and accessible to all.
As I progress in my internship at TASC, I am confident that the knowledge I have gained will be invaluable. I now have a deeper understanding of the issues and challenges that TASC researches, and a greater appreciation for the critical role its research plays in driving meaningful change, not just within the Irish healthcare system. This experience has given me a renewed sense of purpose and optimism, reinforcing my commitment to contributing to meaningful change within both the Irish and global healthcare systems.
Lauren Cotter Lauren Cotter
Lauren is an intern at TASC, working in the health stream with a personal focus on research and solutions for systematic change. She is studying Politics & International Relations and Social Justice at University College Dublin, with a keen interest in foreign policy. She is also involved in the UCD Foundation as a student caller, raising money for scholarships for disadvantaged students.
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