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Promoting health and wellbeing among the migrant workforce: A global call to action

Over the last two decades, there have been increasing calls to improve the health and welfare of low-wage migrant laborers, particularly in areas with large numbers of these workers, such as the Middle East. High-profile events accompanied by large infrastructure projects, such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ (FWC22), have attracted international media scrutiny over employment practices in the region, but also provided a catalyst for introducing important improvements in workers’ rights,…

Health system considerations related to voluntary and forced displacement in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a critical analysis of the available literature

Abstract

Background: The WHO Region for the Eastern Mediterranean has had a history of complex migration patterns, with 
high levels of migration to, from, and within the Region, overlaid by massive recent forced displacement. Relatively little 
is known about the health system response to this large-scale mobility. 

Aims: To review the literature on the Region critically, identify gaps, and suggest areas needing research and policy attention. 

…

Diaspora Engagement in Health in The Eastern Mediterranean Region: A desk review of experiences

This desk review of the medical (or health) diaspora originating from the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) region was conducted jointly by the Department of Health Systems Development at the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (WHO EMRO) and the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) MENA Regional Office, both in Cairo.

The review starts with a brief overview of the (out)migration of health professionals from…

Migrants in the Middle East and North Africa in a time of COVID-19

As COVID-19 vaccine roll-out begins in the MENA region, ensuring migrant populations have equitable access to the vaccine, designing innovative and specific mechanisms for vaccine roll-out in these areas, and monitoring vaccine uptake in migrant groups are now imminent challenges.

Understanding health inequities among transiting migrants within the Middle East and North African (MENA) region through strengthening data systems

The editorial argues that failure to integrate migration variables within the health information systems in many countries in the MENA region means that, to date, there has been an absence of comprehensive and disaggregated epidemiological data on infectious disease prevalence (including COVID-19), outbreaks, and vaccine coverage, making it difficult to map health disparities and inform evidence-based policy and service delivery.

A rapid review of immunisation coverage, vaccine delivery and migration in North Africa amongst migrant populations (PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021256369)

In this systematic review we are trying to answer these specific questions: What is the immunisation coverage among migrant populations in North Africa for key vaccines, and are there variations among migrant subpopulations? Where and by who are vaccines administered to migrant populations? What are the key delivery mechanisms (IOM, NGOs, government structures)? What are the barriers and facilitators to migrant populations accessing vaccines in this region? What is the quality and quantity…

Health profile of pediatric Special Immigrant Visa holders arriving from Iraq and Afghanistan to the United States, 2009–2017: A cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Background
The United States has admitted over 80,000 Special Immigrant Visa holders (SIVH), which include children. Despite the increase in the proportion of SIVH admissions to the US over recent years, little is known about health conditions in SIV children. We report the frequency of selected diseases identified overseas and assess differences in selected conditions between SIV children from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Methods and…

Tools to implement the WHO End TB Strategy: Addressing common challenges in high and low endemic countries

Aim
The purpose of this viewpoint is to summarize the advantages and constraints of the tools and strategies available for reducing the annual incidence of TB by implementing the WHO End TB Strategy and the linked WHO TB Elimination Framework with special reference to Oman.

Methods
The case-study was built based on the presentations and discussions at an international workshop on TB elimination in low incidence countries organized by the Ministry of…

Nutritional profile of Syrian refugee children before resettlement

Abstract
Background
The year 2015 marked the highest number of refugees globally and included record numbers of Syrians moving to neighboring countries. Half of the Syrians were children aged ≤18 years. Our study sought to examine undernutrition and overnutrition among a group of Syrian refugee children who underwent medical screening by IOM for resettlement.
Methods
This is a retrospective review of Syrian refugee children aged 6 to 59 months from January 1…

An evaluation of a tuberculosis case-finding and treatment program among Syrian refugees—Jordan and Lebanon, 2013–2015

Abstract

Background: The displacement crisis in Syria poses challenges for tuberculosis (TB) control across the region. Since 2012 in Jordan and 2013 in Lebanon, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has supported the National TB Program (NTP) in detecting and treating TB among Syrian refugees. In December 2016, IOM asked US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff to evaluate its program of support to Jordan and Lebanon’s NTPs for TB control among…