Hibapress
The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed, Tuesday in Fez, Morocco’s clear national vision regarding the health of migrants and refugees.
“Countries like Morocco, with a clear national vision on the health of migrants and refugees, deserve applause and support to ensure effective implementation,” said the Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Morocco, Maryam Bigdeli, at the opening of an international conference dedicated to the health of refugee and migrant populations (November 29-30).
Ms. Bigdeli stressed that the priority given by Morocco to the right to health and the development of inclusive policies constitutes fertile ground for improving access for this vulnerable population.
The Fez meeting, a moment of collective reflection, comes at the right time, particularly for countries engaged in structural reforms of their health system, such as Morocco, she said, expressing the provision of the WHO to support these countries in implementing practical and effective strategies to ensure equitable access to health care for all, including migrants and refugees.
And to explain, in this context, that the WHO has a global plan for the health of migrants and refugees, as well as a regional plan which serves as a framework for the development of national strategies.
The WHO representative in Morocco noted that migration constitutes a complex reality, anchored in human history, influenced by numerous economic, political and environmental determinants, adding that the health of refugees, whether physical or mental , constitutes a challenge both for the individual and for the health system of the host country.
She insisted on the need to develop inclusive policies that take into account the specificities of each group, calling, in this context, to make health services accessible, train health professionals in cultural diversity, and integrate mental health. in care.
“This is how multisectorality becomes an effective way to integrate health into all policies, in particular for the most vulnerable populations, such as migrants and refugees,” said Ms. Bigdeli, noting that reflection on The health of migrants and refugees must cover the six blocks of the health system, namely financing, governance, service provision, information system, pharmaceutical products and human resources.
Jointly initiated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), WHO and UNHCR in collaboration with the Euromed University of Fez (UEMF), this meeting brings together 150 people representing ministries of health, IOM, from WHO and UNHCR from Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Iraq as well as researchers, academics and civil society representatives from Canada, Spain and the United Kingdom .
This international conference is organized as part of the regional project “Promoting the health and protection of migrant populations in vulnerable situations in Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Yemen”, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.
It provides an opportunity to discuss good practices adopted in the MENA region to improve the health of migrants and refugees and the central role of universities in the development of policies and programs based on scientific data.
