MEDIA ADVISORY 

Launch of the study on “Migration and Health: addressing Current Health Challenges of Migrants and Refugees in Africa – from Policy to Practice”

INVITATION TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

What: Launching of the study on Migration and Health: addressing Current Health Challenges of Migrants and Refugees in Africa – from Policy to Practice

Keynote speakers:

• H.E. Mrs Minata Samate Cessouma, AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission (AUC)
• H.E. Mr Stephan Auer, German Ambassador to Ethiopia
• Prof. Dr. Markus Hanisch, Director, SLE
• Dr John Nkengasong, Director, Africa CDC

When: Wednesday, 4 May 2022 starting from 4:00 pm (EAT)

Who: The African Union Commission (AUC) Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs & Social Development (HHS).

Where: Register for the Virtual event here:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OFlYZhJqQhGJ8aiJUWi7lw

Why:

The nexus between migration and health is recognized as a key cross-cutting issue to achieve effective migration governance in Africa. The 2018 MPFA highlights the fact that linkages between the two topics are constantly brought to the fore in the international discourse on migration, in the context of the spread of communicable diseases. Various migrant groups are exposed to health risks because of their pronounced conditions of vulnerability, including their restricted access to health services, both during and after periods of mobility. However, in order to sustainably address this situation and implement the recommendation of the MPFA, it is important to have an in-depth understanding of the specific needs and challenges faced by various migrants’ groups regarding access to health.

Following the launch of the Migration and Health Policy Area in July 2020, the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the African Union Commission initiated a study project on the topic “Migration and Health: Addressing Current Health Challenges of Migrants & Refugees in Africa”. The study project was implemented by the Centre for Rural Development (SLE; German: Seminar für ländliche Entwicklung) of Humboldt University in Berlin, with the support of GIZ. The overarching objective of the study was to strengthen the governance of migration and health in African Union (AU) Member States by providing a concise picture of the migration and health nexus, as well as an enhanced understanding of existing policy frameworks and their implementation, and respective barriers. It aims to support the AUC in guiding its Member States (MS) to achieve greater coherence between migration and health in policy and in practice.

The study provides a scoping review of available literature at the international, continental, and regional levels, as well as in 15 African countries. It also presents an analysis of migrants’ health needs based on assessment from sub-group of migrants in Kenya (people in refugee-like situations), Nigeria (regular (labour) migrants) and South Africa (irregular migrants). The study also formulates recommendations towards AU Member States, RECs and the AUC on Improving social coverage for regular migrants; Improving the health of Irregular migrants; Improving data collection on migrants' health; Strengthening cross-border infectious disease surveillance; Integration of migrant health care and health care for nationals, and Increasing retention of health professionals. The study also formulates specific recommendations for protecting migrants’ health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual launch event aims at sharing the key policy and programmatic messages from the study in line with improved access to health for migrants and refugees in Africa.

Media representatives are invited to attend and cover the Launch of the study on “Migration and Health: addressing Current Health Challenges of Migrants and Refugees in Africa – from Policy to Practice”

For further information, please contact:

1. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer, Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail:DIC@africa-union.org
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