International Migrants Day is an opportunity to highlight the fact that access to healthcare and preventive health measures for migrants are critical public health issues. That is why resources and support mechanisms are developed in collaboration with on-the-ground stakeholders and professionals and made available to them through specific projects.
Health prevention accessible to everyone
Established by the United Nations, International Migrants Day is observed annually on December 18. Its objectives are to dispel prejudices and raise awareness of the contributions made by migrants in the economic, cultural, and social spheres, benefiting both their countries of origin and their countries of destination. It is also an opportunity to highlight that access to healthcare and preventive health measures for vulnerable migrants are critical public health issues.
For several years, Santé publique France and its partners have been implementing projects aimed at this population and providing professionals with appropriate resources.
For several years, Santé publique France has been implementing initiatives for people from French-speaking Africa living in France through a partnership with Africa Radio, the most influential African media outlet in France.
The weekly program “Santé” covers a different prevention topic each week and airs every Thursday morning, concluding with Sélavie’s segment, which addresses the day’s topic with humor and educational insight.
“Santé’s Guest” is a complementary initiative for social media engagement, particularly on Facebook, featuring short videos published every Tuesday evening.
Event-based initiatives featuring specific spots and testimonials are also organized on topics of particular relevance to this community. On World AIDS Day, Africa Radio mobilized its broadcast and networks alongside Santé publique France to change society’s perception of people living with HIV and support them in accepting the disease.
Produced in partnership with the Committee for the Health of Exiles (Comede) and several partner organizations, the bilingual health booklets are intended for migrants in precarious situations.
They provide information on health, rights, and administrative procedures in France. Their bilingual format makes it easier to communicate with doctors, social workers, or other professionals.
The booklets were updated in 2021 to include information on COVID-19 and reflect various regulatory changes. They are now available in 17 languages: Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin), Creole (Haitian), Dari, English, Georgian, Hindi, Urdu, Pashto, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Tamil, Turkish, and Ukrainian.
The booklets are available for download and can be ordered free of charge by professionals and organizations that work with migrants.
See also
Developed in collaboration with Santé publique France and the Ministry of Health by Comede, drawing on the experience of its professional team that works daily with exiles at its drop-in centers and health clinics, the Comede Guide – Prevention, Care and Support for Vulnerable Foreigners aims to provide professionals with solutions to the most common health, healthcare access, and rights issues faced by refugees in France.
This online tool is designed to promote a multidisciplinary approach: medical, social, legal, psychotherapeutic, and more. The theoretical and practical information it contains covers the most common physical and mental health issues faced by refugees in France.
Sexual health is an integral part of overall health, and this topic should be addressed with everyone who consults a healthcare professional.
Developed in collaboration with the French Society for the Fight Against AIDS (SFLS) and the French-Speaking Society of Infectious Diseases (SPILF), this document provides practical guidelines for addressing this topic with certain migrants who have risk factors.
Download
depliant/flyer
11 January 2024
MobCo is a resource tool featuring tailored educational materials designed for frontline workers who provide direct support to people in precarious situations. It emerged from the knowledge-sharing initiative launched by the agency in the fall of 2020. Its goal is to provide professionals and volunteers (social workers, health mediators, healthcare professionals, etc.) who have established trusting relationships with their clients with information tailored to their needs.
Launched in December 2021, the MOBCO newsletter is aimed at professionals and volunteers in contact with people in precarious situations.
It incorporates the latest insights in a context that is evolving daily. It aims to facilitate discussions about vaccination with people in vulnerable situations: the homeless, migrants, travelers, sex workers, etc.
It is developed collaboratively by professionals working with the people concerned.
Illustrated posters translated into about ten languages have also been produced on infectious disease topics such as monkeypox, COVID-19, bronchiolitis, and winter viruses.
Santé publique France published a special report on the health of vulnerable migrants in the March 2021 issue of its quarterly journal La Santé en action.
As part of its health promotion efforts, the journal examines the overall health of vulnerable migrants, including health determinants, the environment, socioeconomic status, access to employment, healthcare, and prevention, as well as life trajectories, past traumas, and mental health.
This issue provides an overview of the scientific knowledge, practices, systems, and programs implemented to address the health challenges faced by migrants.
This is a new profession in healthcare: mediators facilitate access to prevention and care for people who are disconnected from the healthcare system, including vulnerable migrants. The widening health inequalities currently underway, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying economic crisis, are now shining a spotlight on these “mediators” who serve as a bridge between vulnerable individuals and healthcare professionals. Some thirty experts contribute to this special issue, which presents numerous examples of initiatives targeting migrants.
magazines/revues
14 June 2023
magazines/revues
14 June 2023
