The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented crisis for governments and health systems, and has severely impacted the health, lives and livelihood of millions of people worldwide.

While COVID-19 has affected everyone, it has had particular impact among marginalised communities such as homeless people, LGTBI people, people who use drugs, prisoners, sex workers and undocumented migrants. The pandemic has amplified existing challenges among these groups, who already face a high risk of poor health and various barriers in accessing healthcare and support services. The Nobody Left Outside (NLO) initiative recently explained these challenges and issued policy recommendations in a briefing paper for the WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development.

The webinar “COVID-19 in Marginalised Groups – Challenges, actions and voices” organised in collaboration with the European Health Forum Gastein concludes the NLO Week 2020 – a week of online activities focusing on the unmet healthcare needs of marginalised communities. In this webinar, NLO civil society participants, academics and policymakers will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on marginalised groups, the gaps and unintended consequences of government responses, and how we can ensure future health systems and recovery measures reach everyone.

Speakers include:

• Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, European Commission (Video Address)
• Dr Hans Kluge, Regional Director, WHO Europe
• Dr Vytenis Andriukaitis, NLO Goodwill Ambassador
• Luca Stevenson, International Committee on the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE)
• Cianán Russell, European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe)
• Roberto Perez Gayo, Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network
• Rosaline M’Bayo, Member Representative, European AIDS Treatment Group and Project Coordinator, Afrikaherz
• Denis Onyango, Africa Advocacy Foundation (AAF)
• Alyna Smith, Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)
• Freek Spinnewijn, European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA)
• Prof. Jeffrey Lazarus, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic – University of Barcelona
• Dr Julie Gedberding, Chief Patient Officer representative, MSD USA

Moderator: Boris Azaïs, Director, Public Policy Europe & Canada, MSD