Enhancing regional cooperation to improve migrant health

The international workshop titled "Migration and Health for Migrants in ASEAN" was jointly organized by the Ministry of Health (MOH), IOM, and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Ha Noi on June 26.       

The event, attracted the participation of over 160 high-ranking officials, experts, and scholars from health sectors and non-health sectors.

The workshop provided a platform for participants to discuss and strengthen cooperation among the ASEAN Member States to enhance the health and well-being migrants. It also called for streamlined collaboration to improve access to healthcare services for migrants, especially cross-border migrants.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said that the event is an excellent opportunity for all ASEAN Members to collectively assess the current situation and trends of migration in the region and the world, and its impacts on socio-economic development.

"We can share lesson learned, initiatives and policy recommendations to promote the health of migrants in ASEAN to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN member states as well as with our partners in migrant health", she shared.

IOM's Chief of Mission Park Mihyung, applauded the collaboration between IOM and the MOH, adding that in a world where an increasing number of people are on the move, regional collaborations and partnerships are crucial to enhance the health and well-being of migrants. Healthy migrants contribute to healthy communities.

"I am proud that IOM and ASEAN nations have taken a positive step toward advancing migrant health agenda in accordance with the goals of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM)", she said.

GCM is the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement that prioritizes health as a cross-cutting issue, with references to health and healthcare access in several objectives.

By aligning with the GCM with the SDGs and World Health Assembly Resolutions, we have a significant opportunity to promote the health of migrants, foster multi-sectoral partnerships, and develop data-driven policies in ASEAN, shared Park Mihyung.

Migrants' health is also a top priority of the ASEAN Health Sector under the ASEAN Post 2015 Health Development Agenda, specifically, the ASEAN Health Cluster (AHC 3) on Strengthening Health Systems and Access to Care.

The AHC 3's program aims to enhance health systems' capacity and capability to seek to improve services for documented migrants, including migrant workers, especially women, and children./.