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Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Migration: Programme Framework for East and Horn of Africa and Southern Africa 2023–2027

This Programme Framework for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Migration for East and Horn of Africa and Southern Africa (2023-2027) provides a strategic direction on the key priorities and approaches to be undertaken by IOM and its partners in sustaining migration-responsive SRHR and HIV interventions in the region. The overarching goal of this five-year Programme Framework is to…

Climate change, migration, and zoonoses in the East and Horn of Africa region: A call for action

This technical brief presents an overview of the available evidence connecting climate change, migration, and zoonotic disease risk in East and Horn of Africa, highlighting the gaps in policy and programming for the human mobility and global health security nexus, and providing key recommendations to policymakers and implementing agencies.

Implementation of a Curriculum to Optimize Hygiene Behaviors among Refugees and Migrants being Resettled

Health knowledge and behaviors can impact well-being and promote community integration post-arrival for refugees and migrants being resettled. Health and hygiene curricula are efficient and accessible mechanisms to mitigate the risk of chronic and infectious diseases in populations being resettled. This report summarizes a successful interagency/interdisciplinary Uganda-based collaboration between the International Organization for Migration, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,…

Managing the Paradox of Conflictual Policy and Strategy Regarding Health of Irregular Migrants: Perspective From Europe and Africa

Irregular migrants belong to the most vulnerable migrant groups. Health threats associated with an irregular status are high, and access to health services is severely restricted globally. Concerning migration aspects, a common public narrative for Europe and Africa is that Africa is sending thousands of migrants to embark on an irregular life-threatening journey of migration to Europe every year. Although this is a well documented reality, it is by far not the most important migration…

Health and Reintegration. Returning to Space but not to Time: A life course approach to migrants’ health, continuity of care and impact on reintegration outcomes

This study was the result of a collaboration between the EU-IOM Knowledge Management Hub (KMH), with the financial support of the European Union (EU), in collaboration with Samuel Hall and the African Centre for Migration and Society at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

The main aim of this research was to explore the links between health needs, access to care, and sustainable reintegration of returnees. Within this, there were four main objectives that link the…

Planning and implementing a targeted polio vaccination campaign for Somali mobile populations in Northeastern Kenya based on migration and settlement patterns

Abstract
Supporting the global eradication of wildpoliovrisu (WPV), this project aimed to provide polio and measles vaccines to a population frequenty missed by immunization services and campaigns, ethnic Somali children living among mobile populations within Kenya's Northeastern Region. Additionally, nutritional support, albendazole (for treatment of intestinal parasites) and vitamin A were provided to improve children's health and in accordance with regional vaccination…

Action research report: Supporting behavioural change among at-risk inhabitants of Rumonge province, in Burundi, for climate change adaptation and disease prevention and response

This report highlights the methodologies, results and lessons learned from the project Enhancing Natural Disaster Preparedness and Response Capacity in at-Risk Communities in Burundi, funded by the IOM Development Fund and implemented by IOM Burundi between September 2019 and August 2021.

To enhance natural disaster preparedness and response in this the province of Rumonge in Burundi, the IOM Burundi Disaster Risk Reduction Department, Transition and Recovery Division, and Migration…

Epidemiological progression of COVID-19 positive cases among transnational truck drivers in the East African Region

COVID-19 triggered a range of border controls to curb the spread of the disease. Containment measures and restrictions were put in place to mitigate cross-border transmission while maintaining the flow of essential goods and services in the East and Horn of Africa Region. The first cases of COVID-19 detection among truck drivers, triggered and strengthened cross-border collaboration for detecting and responding to COVID-19 pandemic. Infection was significantly common among truck drivers in…

‘It is a disease which comes and kills directly’: What refugees know about COVID-19 and key influences of compliance with preventive measures

Abstract

Background
Refugees are at increased risk for COVID-19 infection in part due to their living conditions, which make it harder to adopt and adhere to widely accepted preventive measures. Little empirical evidence exists about what refugees know about COVID-19 and what they do to prevent infection. This study explored what refugee women and their health care workers understand about COVID-19 prevention, the extent of their compliance to public health…

WASH responses to COVID-19 in Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan

The humanitarian community has had to learn about COVID-19 while responding to this new disease. From the start it was known that basic hygiene practices, such as proper handwashing, could help prevent its transmission. However, many displacement settings do not have the required facilities for implementing household and community-level Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures. They may also have weak governance systems for managing and maintaining water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH…