enhancing health literacy approaches for migrants, mobile populations and host communities
DESCRIPTION
ECOSOC Annual Ministerial Review Regional Ministerial Meeting for Asia and the Pacific on “Promoting Health Literacy” 29-30 April 2009, Beijing. Enhancing Health Literacy Approaches for Migrants, Mobile Populations and Host Communities International Organization for Migration - IOM. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
ECOSOC Annual Ministerial ReviewRegional Ministerial Meeting for Asia and the Pacific on
“Promoting Health Literacy”29-30 April 2009, Beijing
Enhancing Health Literacy Approaches for
Migrants, Mobile Populations and Host Communities
International Organization for Migration - IOM
International Organization for Migration - IOM
• Global intergovernmental body focused on all aspects of migration
• 125 Member States and 94 Observer States and other Organizations
• Field-oriented, with offices in 430 locations around the world, nearly 6700 staff, and a project base of approximately one billion dollars (US) in 2008
• Humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society
• Migration and Health is one of IOM’s primary areas of focus
Changes in Migration Patterns
PACE - faster mobility and migration
move DIVERSE types of migrants and mobile populations (regular, irregular; cross-border and internal)
One of every 35 persons is an international migrant. (IOM Migration World Report, 2005)
• Migration as such need not be a risk-factor to health
• However, the circumstances surrounding the migration process can pose risks to health
Migration and Health
Vulnerability and migrant health determinants
transit
origin
return
destination
No or limited
access to health
services, but many
risk factors
Migration and Health : Interlinked and Interdependent
• IOM looks at HEALTH as a positive migration outcome advocate for rights of migrants to access health services, especially those who find themselves in vulnerable situations
• Well-managed migrant health benefits all
• Facilitates integration: healthy migrants are productive members of the community
• Stabilizes communities
Health literacy and access to health
Government ownership
Primary Health Care pillars
& Health system
strengthening
Connect countries
Rightsbased
Involve migrants & community
Inclusive: access to
all
Multi-sectoral
Engaging migrants & partners in improving migrant-friendly access to health care services
World Health Assembly Resolution, 2008 : Migrants’ Health
Health information Health promotion,
disease prevention Treatment and care Referral systems Health surveillance, research Language, gender &
culturally appropriate
Examples of I0M/Government Information-Education-
Communications Activities on HIV
and Safe Mobility
• Animation series– Series 1 ‘Love in the City’ - Labour Migration & HIV– Series 2 ‘On the Road’ - Highway Communities & HIV– Tailored training curriculum for HIV prevention and
information in the infrastructure sector
• Radio drama series• Life-skills activities manual, IEC materials** Edutainment media – fun and informative• 8 episodes, 10 minutes per episode• Dubbed in Khmer, Lao, Myanmar, Thai and Vietnamese; English subtitles
Examples of I0M/Government Information-
Education-Communications Activities on HIV and Safe Mobility
“ For Life, with Life” - a behaviour change communications tool
( 1-minute film clip)
HEALTHY MIGRANTS, HEALTHY THAILAND!
To improve health and well-being among migrants in priority provinces of Thailand
-- a sustainable and replicable model on health system strengthening, includes health literacy activities
Key objectives :
•To strengthen the capacity of health care providers and health authorities at all levels to provide accessible basic health services
•To build the capacity of migrants and communities in assessing and providing health services to their peers and families
•To create a replicable model for Migrant Health Program, sustainable model for migrant health services
•To increase health literacy and promote positive health behaviors of migrants and most communities
•To support positive migrant health
policy changes
Chiang Rai
Tak
Samutsakorn
Bangkok
Ranong
Pang Nga
Some Lessons Learned / Elements of Best Practices inMigrant Health Services and Health Literacy
Effective inclusive health literacy policies and delivery systems that include informed cultural mediators and/or health promoters/health care providers
Active community participation by promoting health-seeking behaviours and trust (through health education and health literacy)
Use of balanced & innovative strategies that aim at equitable primary health care services also for the host communities
Orderly migration management including cross border health cooperation, understanding and services
In previous ECOSOC preparatory & related meetings, action points raised
Blending traditional health practices to health literacy approaches
• Very limited information on health literacy in Asia and the Pacific national, regional/sub-regional assessments – including a focus on migrants
• In light of financial crisis – ensuring that health of the workforce including migrants is addressed: Healthy workforces = Healthy economies (China)
• Effective health literacy strategy on environmental and climate change (ex. water table salinization in island States; population relocation and impacts on health)
• Health literacy approaches on emerging/re-emerging communicable diseases , and non communicable diseases
Achieving MDGs, Migrants and Health LiteracyKey Messages
1.Healthy migrants = healthy communities
2.MDG Achievement will depend in many cases on focused inclusion of migrants in the target groups
3.Migrants have specific health needs and assessments and goals in health literacy need to be tailored for migrant groups and mobile populations
Thank you!
Mr. Charles Harns Regional Representative, Manila([email protected])
Mr. Thomas Sinkovits Head of Office, Beijing([email protected])
Dr. Nenette Motus Regional Migration Health
Manager, Bangkok([email protected])