SASKATOON – A family physician who also serves as the assistant dean of Continuing Medical Education at the University of Saskatchewan said doctors need more help to properly treat refugees.
“We don’t always have enough financial resources, human resources – basically any resources. We don’t have clinic space is what I heard this morning,” said Dr. Andries Muller, whose Saskatoon clinic has taken in about 100 Syrian refugees as patients in recent months.
Infectious diseases are the most common ailments he’s seen among his refugee patients.
“Some of the diseases I’ve come across, I haven’t heard of since I left med school 20 years ago,” he said.
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He was one of about 120 physicians and health care professionals at TCU Place Friday. The conference titled “Navigating the Unique Healthcare Needs of Refugees” has the goal of introducing people to clinical guidelines for refugee health.
Presenters covered topics like disease screening, pediatrics and culturally-appropriate care.
READ MORE: Refugee family reunites in Saskatoon after being separated by Syrian war
Dr. Peter Polatin, one of the keynote speakers, is on the faculty for the Boston-based Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma. He focuses on the psychological struggles refugees can face, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Any one of us has our limits, based on how much traumatization we can tolerate,” Polatin said.
In early March, the Government of Saskatchewan said the province had welcomed about 1,100 Syrian refugees since mid-December.
Last year, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimated the number of refugees worldwide reached about 15.1 million, the most in 20 years.
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