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| Photo by the Author |
The meaning of the word migrants is oftentimes contested. Although there is no singular definition of migrants, the majority of experts agree that an international migrant is “someone who changes his or her country of usual residence, irrespective of the reason for migration or legal status.” Some of them leave their country for better economic opportunities, to study, to find a job, and for their safety, while others leave due to political unrest, gang violence, and natural disasters.
However, it is important to note that migrants are different from refugees, and the main difference is choice. Refugees have no choice but to leave for the sake of their safety because of imminent danger while migrants choose to move outside of their country for various reasons. Nonetheless, these two are oftentimes interchanged; migrants may move because of various reasons, which could include socioeconomic difficulties, but unless they are fleeing because of war or are facing armed conflict and persecution, they are not considered refugees.
Migrants face a lot of struggles when migrating such as being at risk of being exposed and subjected to abuse, exploitation, human trafficking, xenophobia, lack of protection, and most importantly, limited access to healthcare. According to the World Report on the Health of Refugees and Migrants, healthcare is difficult to acquire for migrants because of various reasons such as precarious legal status, discrimination, social, cultural, linguistic, administrative, and financial limitations, health illiteracy, and fear of detention and/or deportation. Not to mention, numerous migrants experience working in environments that are not conducive for good health and well-being.
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| Photo by Claudia Rosel/IOM from the United Nations' website |
This is why this has been a great concern of the World Health Organization, thus, they aim to integrate migrants into primary public healthcare as they are people who have the right to it. One of their approach to this is implementing flexible healthcare policies concerning migration as directly stated on their website:
- Protection-sensitive access to territory – enabling access to territories and asylum procedures for people who need international protection;
- flexibility regarding migratory status to ensure that irregular (undocumented) migrants have safe and lawful access to health services;
- non-discriminatory access to health care that provides equal access to health care for all, regardless of migratory status, nationality, gender, gender identity, age, or ethnicity
The WHO is also urging people and organizations by advocating and educating people regarding migrants’ rights to accessible and holistic healthcare. They’re also bringing light to the fact that migrants have a lot to offer in terms of skills, work, culture, and networks to their host countries. Just like others, they are contributing to society, thus, it is our responsibility and duty to make sure that they are receiving the proper health care they deserve and need.
With that being said, is there anything we can do?
For one, there’s the financial and physical aspect where you can donate to organizations that aim to help migrants like the Women's Refugee Commission which supports the Migrants Rights and Justice Program—a program that fights for the rights of migrant children.
Secondly, there’s the emotional and mental aspect where you can advocate for mental health services for migrants and displaced people. Sometimes, this part is often overlooked as we mostly think of aiding them financially, but what they need the most is to be understood and supported emotionally and mentally. They experience distress in their migration, trauma, and separation anxiety, and their journey of moving is not always so kind. Mental health service is mostly inaccessible to migrants which makes their migration and integration process challenging. Therefore, we must also include this in our fight for the rights of migrants. Also, it's helpful to share WHO's infographics and videos about migration awareness and related issues on social media.
In light of today's International Migrants Day, every year on December 18, and beyond this day of commemoration, we must become involved in bringing attention to the public health issues that migrants face and their rights to live in peace, security, and in good health as these are concerns that all of us must take on and become aware of.
How about you? What do you think you can do as a person to help migrants and displaced people all around the world?
