Ministerial lunch: Migration and health in the WHO European Region - presentation delivered by Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab – WHO Regional Director for Europe, on 14 September 2015, at the 65th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (Vilnius, Lithuania, 14–17 September 2015)

1. Ministerial lunch: Migration and health
in the WHO European Region
Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab – WHO Regional Director for Europe

2. Context: Migration in the WHO European Region
77 millions of migrants are living in the WHO European Region, which represents 8% of its
population (European Heath Report 2012)
1 out of 12 residents is a migrant
• To date, over 350,000 refugees and migrants have reached European countries, adding to the almost 2 million in
Turkey.
• Over 2,600 people have lost their life trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea.
• The majority of people arriving to European countries are refugees fleeing armed conflict or persecution.

3. Public Health Aspects of Migration in the European Region
Migrant child in a temporary camp for refugees in Preševo, Serbia
• Population movement is a challenge for refugees and
migrants as well as for the receiving population.
• Responding to the challenges of people on the move
requires health system preparedness and capacity.
• However, high-quality care for refugee and migrant
groups cannot be addressed by health systems alone. A
cross sectoral response to migrant health is necessary to
address the social determinants of health that cut across
sectors such as education, employment, social security
and housing.

4. Public Health Aspects of Migration in the European Region
• Adequate standards of care for refugees and migrants into Europe
are not only important for population health but are fundamental
for protecting and promoting the human rights of refugees and
migrants as well as those of the host communities.
• This is fully in accordance with Health 2020 strategic objectives and
2008 World Health Assembly resolution WHA61.17 on migrants'
health.
• In 2011, thanks to the financial support of the Ministry of Heath of
Italy, the WHO Regional Office for Europe created the project ‘Public
Health Aspects of Migration in Europe’ (PHAME) Project.

5. Public Health Aspects of Migration in the European Region
NGO providing health care to a migrant in Lisbon, Portugal.
• In spite of a common perception that there is an
association between migration and the importation of
infectious diseases, there is no systematic association.
Communicable diseases are primarily associated with
poverty.
• We should focus on ensuring that each and every person
on the move has full access to a hospitable environment
and, when needed, to high-quality health care.
• We need to strengthen intersectoral coordination on
migrant health; implement life-saving interventions; and
improve the management of CDs and NCDs (such as
diabetes or hypertension).

6. Call for inter-country and inter-regional coordination
Painting drawn by a migrant child in a migration camp in the Greek
island of Samos.
1. The escalation of influx of refugees and
migrants calls for a comprehensive and
systematic response to their health needs,
which requires inter-country and inter-
regional coordination, as well as
collaboration among among sectors.
2. WHO/Europe is providing assistance to the
affected countries, including training and
delivery of emergency kits.