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Casting Light on an Underserved Population: Evidence Review of HIV Among Migrants in the EU/EEA

Abstract
HIV epidemics in the EU/EEA (European Union/European Economic Area ) are increasingly diverse in terms of transmission modes and people affected. This systematic search and review synthesize the evidence on vulnerable migrants living in this region (including but not limited to people with irregular status).  Review findings show that many migrants carry a higher HIV burden than the general population.  Of concern are high proportions of post-migration HIV acquisition…

Healthcare is not universal if undocumented migrants are excluded

Key messages

• Millions of men, women, and children who have migrated internationally pay taxes and contribute to local economies but fail to receive the security of universal health coverage
• The right to health, which underpins the commitment to universal health coverage in the sustainable development goals, includes migrant populations
• Some countries are designing inclusive policies to ensure that undocumented migrants have access to health services, while other…

Why we shouldn’t use the term “illegal migrant” (Views and Reviews)

Words have consequences, especially in situations where strong emotions, as well as social and political conflicts, are endemic. Raj Bhopal’s rapid response in The BMJ, in which he objected to the use of the phrase “illegal migrant” on the grounds that only actions, not persons, can be deemed illegal, merits further reflection and dissection. 
 
Some people think that those who protest against this phrase are taking sides with migrants in conflict with the law, in a futile…

Reflections on migrant and refugee health in Malaysia and the ASEAN region

Migrants and refugees face challenges accessing both healthcare and good social determinants of health in Malaysia. Participants at the “Migrant and Refugee Health in Malaysia workshop, Kuala Lumpur, 9-10 November 2017” scoped these challenges within the regional ASEAN context, identifying gaps in knowledge and practical steps forward to improve the evidence base in the Malaysia.

Immigration detention and health in Europe

In Europe, irregular migrants and rejected asylum-seekers still face detention. This chapter examines the most important aspects related to health in the context of immigration detention in Europe. Reviewing the literature and drawing on field evidence from IOM projects, it identifies the main health conditions of migrants in detention and looks into the common EU standards set in the Return Directive and the Reception Condition Directive as well as the relevant non-…

Health for all migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean has faced inconsistent human rights and health protection for migrants in the past, just as much as other regions. For example, in Chile, about 70% of immigrants come from other Latin America and the Caribbean countries (representing 2·7% of the total population of Chile), and a third of them are estimated to be undocumented or socioeconomically vulnerable. These migrants tend to work in informal jobs and to live in poor quality, overcrowded buildings.…

Malaria burden in irregular migrants returning to Sri Lanka from human smuggling operations in West Africa and implications for a country reaching malaria elimination

High attack rate for malaria through irregular migration routes to a country on verge of elimination

Abstract Irregular migration in the form of human smuggling and human trafficking is recognized as a global public health issue. Thirty-two cases of Plasmodium falciparum were detected in 534 irregular migrants returning to Sri Lanka via failed human smuggling routes from West Africa in 2012, contributing to the largest burden of imported cases in Sri Lanka as it entered elimination phase. Beyond the criminality and human rights abuse, irregular migration plays an…

Irregular migration as a potential source of malaria reintroduction in Sri Lanka and use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests at point-of-entry screening

Background. We describe an irregular migrant who returned to Sri Lanka after a failed people smuggling operation from West  Africa. Results. On-arrival screening by Anti-Malaria Campaign (AMC) officers using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) (CareStart  Malaria HRP2/PLDH) indicated a negative result. On day 3 after arrival, he presented with fever and chills but was managed as dengue (which is hyperendemic in Sri Lanka). Only on day 7, diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum…