Vulnerability assessment in Malta during COVID-19
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) have been on the rise over the past two decades, including the current COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to the development of improved strategies for preventing and responding to such risks.
This is the ultimate goal of the SoNAR-Global initiative, a global consortium that includes the University of Malta, which has been awarded € 4.3 million in research funding by the European Commission. It is led by social scientists specializing in EIDs and AMR from a variety of universities and research institutes, run by the Institut Pasteur in France and University College London.
The Department of Anthropological Sciences of the University of Malta is one of the 15 global partners involved in the collection and analysis of ethnographic data as part of the project vulnerability assessment in relation to COVID-19. The research carried out in Malta is led by Prof. Jean-Paul Baldacchino, head of the Department of Anthropological Sciences at the University of Malta.
On 1 November, a memorandum of understanding was signed at the University of Malta with various local partners, including social organizations and authorities working among vulnerable groups from the private sector as well as government entities and NGOs. Signatories included representatives of the Housing Authority, CareMalta, Mental Health Services, Dawn Foundation, Blue Door, Allied Rainbow Community and Richmond Foundation.
The aim is to develop a global think tank of scholars working on the application of knowledge from social science to health science, with an emphasis on infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. Part of the study involves the implementation of a vulnerability assessment tool at a variety of sites in Europe and beyond.
Through the study, scholars are seeking to identify the contextual characteristics of the particular vulnerability to the Maltese context, as well as to inform policies to combat the risks faced by people in this regard. This tool will help to gather in-depth data on resilience as well as new and emerging vulnerabilities on an unprecedented international scale, while enabling us to gather knowledge about important localization factors.
Research in Malta involves around 120 in-depth interviews with individuals from all backgrounds, who have been affected by the current pandemic, both in terms of their overall health and well-being, as well as their financial and financial well-being. their social status. This research will be analyzed together with data generated by other European countries.
Prof. Baldachino stressed that COVID-19 highlighted the urgent need to consider vulnerability not only from biomedical terms but also from a broader social and cultural lens. He said: “This makes the research being carried out in Malta not only fundamental to informing local social policy but indeed instrumental in developing solutions that inform European policy initiatives.
COVID-19 highlighted the urgent need to consider vulnerability not only from biomedical terms but also from a broader social and cultural perspective.
“This research represents an innovative approach not only by combining anthropological methods to inform mental health and social policy in Malta but also because it represents a key collaboration between university research and diversity of social partners.
“The memorandum of understanding serves as a solid foundation and commitment to working together with the community.”
The Rector of the University Prof. Alfred Vella expressed his gratitude, saying “this agreement is part of the university support system it needs to continue to move forward with ongoing research on vulnerability. We are glad that we are contributing to the greater good of society with the knowledge and expertise of our researchers along with the accessibility of data from our current partnerships. We look forward to generating positive results in understanding these vulnerabilities, especially among our students. ”
This project received funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. For more information on the project, visit www.sonar-global.eu.
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