Migration and health news from around the WHO European Region
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Migration and health news from around the WHO European Region.
Migration and Health Newsletter
June 2024
World Refugee Day 2024: In solidarity with refugees and their specific health needs
World Refugee Day, 20 June 2024
On 20 June every year, WHO joins UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and partners in marking World Refugee Day. This year's campaign focuses on solidarity with refugees – for a world where refugees are welcomed.
Refugees need our solidarity now. Solidarity means supporting their health needs through local, national, regional, and global efforts. It involves listening to their health needs, easing their access to healthcare at policy and implementation levels, collaborating with relevant partners, and finding solutions to ensure universal health coverage, including for refugees.
Visit our World Refugee Day 2024 page.
Learning from Malta’s Example for Refugee and Migrant Health
20 June 2024
As an island located at the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta has been a transitional or stopping point for people on the move throughout history. Today, Malta is home to more than 11,000 refugees and 2,000 asylum-seekers, predominantly from Bangladesh, Libya, Syria, Ukraine and Sudan. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Malta has also issued over 2,000 Temporary Protection certificates, with 75% of certificates issued to women and children.
WHO/Europe, in collaboration with the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing of Malta, hosted the first Knowledge Forum on Refugee and Migrant Health in Malta on 16–18 April this year. The Knowledge Forum aims
to provide a platform for key governmental and humanitarian actors, civil society, UN agencies, and relevant stakeholders to promote knowledge and exchange country experiences, identify areas for collaboration, and follow up on the implementation of the action plan on refugee and migrant health in the WHO European Region 2023-2030.
Read the full story here.
“My entire body apart from my chest sustained burns; 65% of it is affected” - Hrayr, survivor
20 June 2024 - Armenia
In September 2023, a massive explosion at a fuel depot in the Karabakh region killed more than 200 people fleeing to Armenia, and injured hundreds.
For burns patients, the road to recovery remains long and painful. To them, rehabilitation, including physical therapy, is crucial – to regain their independence and mobility.
To support affected #refugees, WHO, together with the Ministry of Health of Armenia and Emergency Medical Teams from Samaritan’s Purse and UK-Med, has implemented rehabilitation trainings for Armenian health professionals. Providing mental health and psychosocial support to burns patients, their families and medical staff involved in the response has also been a major feature of WHO’s long-term support.
“We got vaccinated against measles to be safe” – refugees’ experiences in the Republic of Moldova
4 June 2024 - Chișinău, The Republic of Moldova
Brenda Rodita and Mihail Bucur, along with their 3 daughters, Angelina, Victoria and Leila, are among the thousands of families who have fled to the Republic of Moldova due to the war in Ukraine. They have been living at the refugee centre in Chișinău for several months and are grateful for the shelter provided. Brenda and Mihail are relieved that their daughters are safe and can enjoy life.
They are particularly grateful that their daughters were recently vaccinated against measles after an outbreak was detected in the centre. Since the beginning of 2024, 54 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the Republic of Moldova. This includes 18 cases reported in the refugee centre in March–April 2024 among children and adults, many of whom required hospitalization.
Read the full story here.
Building bridges for health: the WHO hotline for Ukrainian refugees in Romania
20 June 2024, Romania
Ukrainian refugees have frequently highlighted language as the greatest barrier to accessing health services in Romania and other refugee-receiving countries. Explaining health issues to Romanian health-care providers, requesting necessary care and providing consent for medical procedures are some of the difficulties they regularly encounter.
In a significant step towards addressing the health-care needs of the Ukrainian diaspora community, the WHO Country Office in Romania launched a free-of-charge translation and interpretation hotline in April, designed to bridge the linguistic barrier between Ukrainian refugees and health service providers. The hotline has received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Find out more in the news release.
26 June 2024
The WHO Country Office in Poland, World Health Organization Emergencies Programme and the Department of Health and Migration, along with WHO/Europe have been collaborating with Statistics Poland since the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis. This collaboration will reach a milestone with the launch of "Health of Refugees from Ukraine: A Comparative Analysis of 2022-2023 Surveys and Data Innovations" – Towards Robust Estimates for Health of Refugees and Migrants Worldwide. The launch event will be held at Statistics Poland's headquarters in Warsaw on 26 June 2024.
The launch event will showcase the tangible outcomes of this collaboration between the National Statistics Office and national and international health sector agencies. It seeks to raise international interest in this work, highlighting its significance and potential global impact.
11-12 June 2024, Czechia
The WHO Regional Office for Europe in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Czechia organized the sub-regional technical meeting to bring together experts from 10 refugee-hosting countries and Ukraine to hold interactive plenary and group discussions on the cross-cutting issues of sustainable health financing, health workforce, health service delivery, and health information.
The meeting provided a platform for the exchange of ideas, knowledge, best practices and facilitated collaboration on coordinated actions. It served as an opportunity to discuss the forthcoming WHO report on “Impacts of the large-scale displacement from Ukraine on health systems in refugee-receiving countries in the WHO European Region: challenges and opportunities for transformative actions and policies” and draft policy options and consideration papers focusing on health financing and service delivery. And it identified next steps for mid- to long-term strategic planning and sustained efforts by refugee-hosting countries.
WHO issues updated guidance for strengthening health information systems, including an add-on module in migration health data
11 June 2024
WHO/Europe has updated its guidance for assessing and strengthening health information systems. The latest version of the support tool helps countries evaluate the current state of their systems, define a strategic vision, prepare an improvement plan and monitor progress.
The updated support tool comes with several add-on modules that target specific parts or functions of national health information systems. They focus on emergency response information management systems, geographic information systems, long-term care and migration health data.
Guidance for health information system assessment and strategy development. Second edition
Registration is now open for new flexible learning options, starting in September 2024, at the University of Limerick, Ireland
5 June 2024, Ireland
Participatory Health Research Professional Diploma (mostly online)
- One-year, part-time
- Level 9
Introduction to Participatory Health Research for Public & Patient Involvement (all online):
- Twelve-week part-time
- Level 9, micro-credential
Colombia to host WHO's Fifth Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health
The WHO Department of Health and Migration is pleased to announce the Fifth edition of the Global School on Refugee and Migrant Health, scheduled for 2-6 December 2024, in Bogota, Colombia.
This WHO initiative offers a pivotal opportunity to bring together experts, stakeholders, and policymakers. The Global School serves as a platform to explore innovative approaches, share best practices, and forge partnerships in addressing the complex health challenges faced by migrant populations worldwide. Through robust knowledge sharing and the leveraging of collective experiences, this flagship course aims to enhance the health and well-being of migrant populations.
The event will be conducted as an online synchronous learning experience, comprising five 90-minute modules delivered over five consecutive days. Each module will focus on key sub-thematic areas of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for refugees and migrants.
Stay tuned for more updates on this significant event!
WHA77 Side event on the Third Global Consultation on the Health of Refugees and Migrants: Italy’s commitment to promoting Universal Health Coverage
28 May 2024
During the side event held on the margins of the 77th World Health Assembly and hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco and supported by WHO, UNHCR, and IOM, the Italian Minister of Health, H.E. Prof. Orazio Schillaci, intervened as a panelist, highlighting Italy's long-standing commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The event – a follow-up to the Third Global Consultation on the Health of Refugees and Migrants - featured prominent speakers, including H.E. Prof. Khalid Aït Taleb, Minister of Health and Social Protection of Morocco; H.E. Dr. Jaime Urrego, Vice Minister of Health and Social Protection of Colombia; Dr. Raquel Child, Chief of the Office of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Health of Chile; Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean; Mr. Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at UNHCR; Dr. Santino Severoni, Director of Health and Migration at WHO and Mrs. Kristin Dadey, Deputy Chief of Staff at IOM.
H.E. Prof. Schillaci emphasized that for over 45 years, Italy has upheld the right to health care for every citizen, as enshrined in the Constitutional Charter. Italian law guarantees equal access to care for non-EU citizens, including those without regular status, ensuring access to essential and emergency health services. The Minister underscored the importance of the National Health Service (SSN) in addressing the health needs of vulnerable populations, including refugees and migrants, through comprehensive and inclusive healthcare policies. He reiterated the Ministry of Health's mission to promote access to quality health services, enhancing the sustainability of interventions and benefiting the entire community. Prof. Schillaci's intervention reflected Italy's dedication to fostering collaboration at national and international levels to support the health of individuals and the global community.
Understanding the increasing trend of medical-driven migration: a collaborative evaluation of Georgia's health system
27-30 May 2024, Georgia
In recent years, the global trend of medical-driven migration has seen a significant rise. With the overall objective to contribute to the Government of Georgia’s efforts to address drivers of health-related migration from Georgia, the WHO Country Office in Georgia and the Migration and Health Programme at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, in the context of a joint project with IOM supported by the Swiss Government, conducted a thorough evaluation of the health system to understand the push and pull factors influencing this phenomenon. The mission took place on 27-30 May and included meetings with a wide range of stakeholders.
The engagement with health authorities, civil society organizations, patients' associations and health care managers and providers provided insights into national healthcare policies and health service delivery challenges and solutions, including access to oncology diagnosis, treatment and care. The mission culminated in a workshop with cancer care specialists who shared firsthand experiences and insights. This collaborative effort aims to create a holistic understanding of medical-driven migration, paving the way for informed policy recommendations and strategic action plans.
Announcement of the winners of the 5th Health for All Film Festival
26 May 2024 - Geneva, Switzerland
The World Health Organization announced the official selection of this year’s winning films at the 5th Health for All Film Festival. The awards were announced at a special event launching WHO’s Investment Round on the eve of the Seventy-Seventh World Health Assembly in Geneva.
Among the films receiving awards, the special Prize Migrants and Refugees Health was given to “Dalal's Story” directed by Alexandra Cordukes from Laundry Lane Productions (Australia).
This short film follows Dalal, a Yazidi woman who flees her country after being imprisoned by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh), documenting her journey across the world and rehabilitation in Australia. While fictional, the story is based on the real experiences of people from refugee backgrounds. It champions inclusive access to health care and shows how access to services promotes positive health outcomes.
Watch all the short films shortlisted for the category “Emergency, Migrants and Refugees Health”
Release of the Report from the Third Global Consultation on the Health of Refugees and Migrants
22 May 2024
In June 2023, more than 250 representatives of 50 Member States and observers, United Nations agencies and other intergovernmental organizations and non-State actors, including the refugee and migrant communities, participated in the Third Global Consultation on the Health of Refugees and Migrants which led to the adoption of the Rabat Declaration by 49 Member States and observers. Co-organized by WHO, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Kingdom of Morocco, this event and the Rabat Declaration strengthened global political commitment to improve, protect, and preserve the health and well-being of refugees, migrants, and host communities.
The outcome report released recently not only summarizes the critical discussions at the consultation but also provides actionable steps for consideration by governments, UN agencies, and partners. If translated into action, those steps can create inclusive, responsive and sustainable health systems that address the health needs and rights of refugees, migrants and host communities alike.
Read the summary of key messages from the report
Refugee and Migrant Health System Review in Estonia
13-17 May 2024
A joint review mission to review the refugee and migrant health system in Estonia was undertaken by the WHO Country Office in Estonia, the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the Department of Health and Migration in WHO headquarters, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs in Estonia and key partners.
The review aimed to identify the current and emerging health challenges for refugees and migrants in Estonia and opportunities to further support the country in strengthening health system capacity and ensuring continued access to health services for refugees, migrants, and host communities. The review covered the health system building blocks as well as the essential public health functions at primary health care level.
EU4Health project: Training of health mediators/navigators
29 March 2024, Moldova
WHO is partnering with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) to improve access to health services for refugees and displaced people from Ukraine in 10 refugee-receiving countries. Among the deliverables, the project has deployed health navigators/mediators in a number of countries to support refugees and displaced people from Ukraine in navigating the health system of the host country.
The WHO Country Office of the Republic of Moldova facilitated such training at the end of March. The training was delivered to 10 health mediators from Ukraine with a medical background. The training was composed of three modules. First, how to access the health system, including the registration process with a family doctor and their role with non-emergency care. Second, a detailed overview of the health services available to refugees registered under Temporary Protection. And third, information on how refugees can access compensated medications and medical products.
More info on the project "Partnering with IOM and EU for better health of refugees and displaced people from Ukraine"
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