World Refugee Day shines spotlight on link between health and education

Bupa Global Kenya has called for a broader approach to improving health outcomes, saying access to education, clean water, safety and economic opportunities are just as critical as medical care in building healthier and more resilient communities.

The insurer made the remarks during the commemoration of World Refugee Day 2026, where it participated as a Gold Sponsor of the UNHCR Charity Golf Tournament held under the theme "Swing for Education." The tournament sought to raise support for education programmes targeting displaced and vulnerable children.

According to the company, keeping children in school has long-term benefits beyond learning, including improved health outcomes, better decision-making and greater resilience.

Bupa Global Kenya said its healthcare model focuses on prevention, personalised care and coordinated specialist services, arguing that healthcare should not only treat illness but also address the broader conditions that influence wellbeing.

Speaking during the event, Bupa Global Kenya CEO and Principal Officer Uditha Jayaratne said health is shaped by a range of social and economic factors beyond hospital care.

"Health is influenced by far more than what happens in a hospital or clinic. Access to education, clean water, safety and opportunity all play an important role in shaping healthier and more resilient communities," Jayaratne said.

He added that the company's purpose is to help people "live longer, healthier, happier lives" by supporting initiatives that strengthen the foundations of wellbeing and enable people to make informed choices about their futures.

The company noted that displacement across Africa is increasingly being compounded by climate variability, rapid urbanisation and uneven access to essential services, creating interconnected challenges that require coordinated responses from humanitarian organisations, governments and the private sector.

It argued that partnerships combining humanitarian reach, private sector investment and public systems are more likely to deliver sustainable outcomes than isolated interventions.

Bupa Global Kenya further said World Refugee Day should serve not only as a day of awareness but also as a reminder that health is built through stable support systems, education, opportunity and access, particularly for displaced populations.