by Jerusha Alvares 

On March 9, UTSC had the pleasure of virtually hosting one of its alumni as part of Global & International Health Week. Mandekh Hussein, a graduate from the Centre for Critical Development who currently works as a primary care workforce strategy consultant and a lecturer at Brunel University spoke on the topic of “Trust and Health Inequities in Primary Care”. The event attracted attendees from across North America and the United Kingdom.

The presentation began by examining the sources of health inequities and the barriers to accessing primary care which enable such inequalities to persist. These included insufficient time with health professionals during appointments, language and cultural barriers, isolation caused by a lack of access to the technology necessary for digital consultations and the lack of a permanent address or immigration status that are required when completing the paperwork required for appointments.

Hussein also spoke about how practitioners learn about health inequalities early in their career, but struggle to implement these ideas into reality. She continued on by suggesting ways to overcome these barriers. These included cultivating spaces for communities to engage in conversations with practitioners in a safe space for them to voice their concerns, using various tools and platforms to engage participants, and running workshops in local languages to dissipate misinformation. As an example, Hussein discussed her own work with the Somali community in England and how such conversations that took place in their own language allowed them to raise concerns and answer each other’s questions on pressing topics such as childhood immunization.

While the talk also mentioned that it is still a challenge to engage some populations including those who work night shifts or are otherwise unable to attend these community meetings, they are working to better include those from the peripheries. Lying at the crux of this approach to reducing inequalities, Hussein stressed the importance of building trust, and taking the time to hear, respect and understand individuals, especially those who are most vulnerable. Overall, the talk was an enriching experience for all and sure to inspire many future actions and conversations.