Refugees and migrants in times of COVID-19: mapping trends of public health and migration policies and practices

Refugees and migrants have been disproportionately affected by both the direct effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictive migration measures put in place, which, in turn, have hampered coordinated and consistent public health responses. This report maps how the needs of refugee and migrant have been addressed in COVID-19 responses across countries and how these have varied considerably from inclusive policies to discriminatory practices. Many countries ensured access to health care for refugees and migrants regardless of migration status, and several countries also suspended forced returns and prioritized alternatives to immigration detention. An integrated approach to migration and public health policies covering protection-sensitive access to territories, a flexible approach to migration status and non-discriminatory access to health care is suggested as a policy consideration to uphold international conventions protecting the right to health without discrimination for refugees and migrants

Health diplomacy: spotlight on refugees and migrants

Nowadays, refugees and migrants are the focus of intense political debate worldwide. From the public health perspective, population movement, including forced migration, is a complex phenomenon and is a high priority on the political and policy agenda of most WHO Member States. Health diplomacy and the health of refugees and migrants are intrinsically linked. Human mobility is relevant to all countries and creates important challenges in terms of both sustainable development and human rights, to ensure equality and achieve results through the Sustainable Development Goals. This book is part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe’s commitment to work for the health of refugees and migrants. It showcases good practices by which governments, non-state actors and international and nongovernmental organizations attempt to address the complexity of migration, by strengthening health system responsiveness to refugee and migrant health matters, and by coordinating and developing foreign policy solutions to improve health at the global, regional, country and local levels

A desk review on institutional and non-institutional organizations active in the field of migrant’s health in the WHO European Region

Background Migrants have problematic access to health-care; non-institutional organizations (NGOs), as well as institutional bodies may play a role facilitating their access to mainstream health care. Aim Our research reviews actions that address migrant’s need to understand how, where, and who participates to this effort. Method Data were from desk or web research, declaration from organisations and their websites, information from WHO Country offices.  Results 154 NGO were identified in the WHO EURO region. 58% were direct health care providers while the remaining provided either mediation services or belong to umbrella organization. 173 National Institutes (GOVs) were found; less than the 20% were directly or indirectly involved in health care, whereas the majority was involved in research, policy development, international relations and human rights. Conclusion and recommendation Some gaps and duplications were identified. WHO can play an overarching role in the exchange of expertise and harmonisation of the efforts in this field

Migrant health in Italy: a better health status difficult to maintain-country of origin and assimilation effects studied from the Italian risk factor surveillance data

Many studies on migrant health have focused on aspects of morbidity and mortality, but very few approach the relevant issues of migrants' health considering behavioral risk factors. Previous studies have often been limited methodologically because of sample size or lack of information on migrant country of origin. Information about risk factors is fundamental to direct any intervention, particularly with regard to non-communicable diseases that are leading causes of death and disease. Thus, the main focus of our analysis is the influence of country of origin and the assimilation process

The policy and politics of migrants and health: European view

O que sabemos hoje, quais as lacunas na compreensão do problema e quais as perspetivas futuras? Nas últimas décadas, os países Europeus têm-se confrontado com um aumento dos fluxos migratórios, tornando a migração um fenómeno comum e em sociedades cada vez mais diversificadas. No contexto do processo migratório, as populações migrantes e refugiadas confrontam-se, no país de acolhimento, com um novo contexto social, cultural e linguístico. Por outro lado, a atual complexidade deste processo decorre, também, de uma população migrante heterogénea, com diferentes características e necessidades em saúde. A migração coloca importantes desafios para a saúde, relativamente aos determinantes sociais de saúde, planeamento e implementação de políticas de saúde efetivas e adaptação dos sistemas de saúde, incluindo a resposta a disparidades nas necessidades de saúde, bem como a capacidade dos profissionais de saúde para lidar com a diversidade cultural. Todos estes aspetos devem ser considerados em sociedades que procuram a integração efetiva de migrantes e a qualidade e equidade nos cuidados de saúde para alcançar o bem-estar de toda a população. Este livro constitui uma oportunidade para debater este tema atual e prioritário, essencialmente ao nível de politicas de saúde, da intervenção e da investigação futura. Tem como objetivo proporcionar uma visão abrangente do conhecimento atual desta temática, discutir lacunas na compreensão do problema e analisar como coletivamente prosseguir de forma a atingir o objetivo último de melhorar a saúde e o bem-estar das populações migrantes/refugiadas e da sociedade em geral. Irá interessar uma audiência nacional e internacional de atores e investigadores

Health and the Process of Migration

Chapter 5. Health and the Process of Migratio