UNHCR Secures $28M Health Partnership to Improve Care for Refugees in East Africa

UNHCR says the initiative represents a major step toward integrating refugees into national healthcare systems and reducing long-term dependence on humanitarian aid.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has announced three major new partnerships aimed at transforming healthcare access for millions of refugees and host communities across East Africa, as chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension continue to rise among displaced populations.

The partnerships — formed with the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the World Diabetes Foundation, and Novo Nordisk — will bring a combined investment of US$28 million over the next three years to strengthen healthcare systems in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda.

These five countries collectively host more than 2.3 million forcibly displaced people, making East Africa one of the world's most important refugee-hosting regions.

UNHCR says the initiative represents a major step toward integrating refugees into national healthcare systems and reducing long-term dependence on humanitarian aid.

Major Focus on Chronic Diseases Among Refugees

The partnerships will primarily focus on improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially:

• Diabetes

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Health experts warn that chronic diseases are becoming a growing crisis among refugee populations, many of whom face serious barriers to accessing healthcare services after displacement.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), non-communicable diseases now account for approximately 74 percent of deaths globally.

Refugees and displaced people are often particularly vulnerable because they may lack:

• Access to regular medical care

• Early diagnosis services

• Long-term treatment

• Medication continuity

• Health monitoring systems

Without treatment, conditions such as diabetes and hypertension can lead to:

• Heart disease

• Stroke

• Kidney failure

• Blindness

• Disability

• Premature death

UNHCR officials stressed that many of these illnesses are manageable or preventable if diagnosed and treated in time.

Strengthening Health Systems in Refugee-Hosting Areas

A key objective of the initiative is to strengthen both UNHCR-supported and national health facilities in refugee-hosting communities.

The partnerships will support:

• Training healthcare workers

• Upgrading medical infrastructure

• Providing essential medical equipment

• Expanding diagnostic services

• Improving chronic disease management

The programme aims to improve healthcare services not only for refugees but also for local host communities, many of which face overstretched health systems due to growing populations and limited resources.

By investing directly in national health infrastructure, the initiative seeks to create more sustainable and inclusive healthcare systems capable of serving both displaced and local populations.

Refugee Inclusion Central to the Initiative

One of the most significant aspects of the partnerships is the emphasis on integrating refugees into national healthcare systems.

Rather than relying solely on parallel humanitarian services, the initiative promotes equal access to healthcare through public systems.

UNHCR says this approach helps:

• Strengthen universal health coverage

• Improve continuity of care

• Reduce inequalities

• Enhance long-term sustainability

• Promote refugee self-reliance

Health inclusion has become an increasingly important international policy goal as global displacement reaches record levels.

Humanitarian agencies argue that excluding refugees from national health systems creates long-term health, economic, and social risks for both refugees and host countries.

Danish Government Supporting Refugee Health Initiatives

The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also supporting efforts to improve healthcare access for displaced populations in East Africa.

Denmark is collaborating closely with Danish private sector and philanthropic organizations through initiatives such as the Alliance for Inclusive Refugee Response in Kenya.

The collaboration reflects a broader international push toward partnerships between governments, humanitarian agencies, businesses, and philanthropic institutions to address global refugee challenges more sustainably.

UNHCR described Denmark's support as an example of how international cooperation can help build stronger and more inclusive public systems.

Novo Nordisk Foundation Highlights Health Equity Goals

Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, said the partnership reflects the organization's commitment to improving health equity through long-term systemic change.

He noted that the foundation is already involved in strengthening inclusive healthcare systems in Kenya and Ethiopia.

According to Thomsen, the initiative aims to make national health systems:

• More sustainable

• More resilient

• More accessible for refugees and vulnerable populations

The foundation believes long-term health improvements require integrating refugee health needs into national development planning rather than treating displacement solely as a humanitarian emergency.

Building on Existing Healthcare Successes

The new investments build upon earlier collaborations between UNHCR and its partners in refugee healthcare.

The next phase of work aims to:

• Expand successful care models

• Improve integrated health data systems

• Strengthen cross-border continuity of care

• Introduce climate-resilient healthcare measures

• Increase awareness about nutrition and mental health

Health officials emphasized the growing recognition of links between:

• Chronic diseases

• Nutrition

• Mental health

• Climate-related vulnerabilities

• Long-term displacement

Experts say addressing these interconnected issues is essential for improving overall health outcomes among displaced populations.

World Diabetes Foundation Focuses on Local Capacity

Leif Fenger Jensen, Managing Director of the World Diabetes Foundation, said the partnership builds on the organization's long-standing work supporting diabetes and non-communicable disease care in East Africa.

He emphasized that the collaboration focuses on:

• Building local healthcare capacity

• Strengthening public health systems

• Supporting refugee inclusion in national responses

The initiative will continue supporting camp-based health services while also reinforcing broader national healthcare structures in Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda.

Health experts say local capacity-building is critical because many refugee-hosting countries face severe shortages of:

• Medical professionals

• Diagnostic equipment

• Chronic disease specialists

• Long-term treatment programmes

UNHCR Calls for Sustainable Solutions

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih described the partnerships as an important step toward transitioning from emergency humanitarian aid to sustainable healthcare systems.

He noted that the initiative will expand healthcare access for both refugees and host communities, especially those living with chronic illnesses.

Salih praised Denmark and its private sector and philanthropic partners for demonstrating international leadership in supporting inclusive refugee responses.

According to UNHCR, integrating refugees into universal health coverage systems is essential for:

• Long-term stability

• Economic resilience

• Public health protection

• Social inclusion

Refugee Health Challenges Growing Worldwide

Global displacement levels continue to rise due to:

• Conflict

• Political instability

• Climate disasters

• Persecution

• Economic crises

As displacement becomes increasingly prolonged, humanitarian agencies say chronic disease management has become one of the most urgent but underfunded areas of refugee health.

Many refugee populations now spend years or even decades in displacement situations, requiring healthcare systems capable of providing continuous treatment rather than only emergency services.

Health experts warn that failing to address chronic diseases among refugees can lead to:

• Higher mortality

• Increased healthcare costs

• Reduced economic productivity

• Greater strain on host communities

Partnerships Reflect New Model for Refugee Support

The collaboration between UNHCR, philanthropic organizations, and private sector partners reflects a growing shift toward multi-sector partnerships in humanitarian and development work.

Rather than short-term aid alone, the model focuses on:

• System strengthening

• Long-term resilience

• Shared responsibility

• Sustainable development

UNHCR says the initiative demonstrates how coordinated investment can simultaneously support:

• Refugees

• National health systems

• Local communities

• Economic development goals

As refugee-hosting countries face mounting pressures on public services, international agencies increasingly argue that inclusive investment in healthcare systems benefits entire societies, not only displaced populations.