According to WHO, refugees and migrants more likely to get sick

The first-ever report on the health of refugees and migrants in the WHO European Region reveals that refugees and migrants are more likely to fall ill.

Launched in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 21, 2019, the first-ever report on the health of refugees and migrants in the European region of WHO has been published. The report revealed that refugees and migrants were more likely to become ill in transit or in host countries due to changes in living conditions and the choice of suitable lifestyles.

The health of refugees and migrants

Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, said: "Today, political and social systems are struggling to meet the challenge of coping with displacement and migration in a humane way. and positive.

"This report is the first of its kind and gives us an overview of the health of refugees and migrants in the European Region of WHO, at a time when the phenomenon of migration is taking hold. magnitude in the world. "

The report summarizes most of the latest available data on the health of refugees and migrants in the WHO European Region, based on a review of more than 13,000 documents and the progress made by countries in promoting their health. health.

The report also challenges some of the widespread misconceptions in host communities about the health of migrant and refugee populations and provides host countries with strong evidence to target their interventions.

Falling ill and preconceived conceptions

The report points out that international migrants make up only 10% (90.7 million) of the total population of the European Region of WHO. Less than 7.4% of them are refugees.

In some European countries, citizens estimate that there are 3 or 4 times more migrants than there really are.

In addition, these people have a lower risk of developing all forms of cancer, with the exception of cancer of the cervix of the uterus. However, cancer among refugees and migrants is more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, which can lead to health outcomes that are considerably more severe than those of the host population.

The report reaffirms that refugees and migrants are entitled to the same human right to health as everyone else in the Region, while recognizing that in the current feverish atmosphere of the continent, political and social systems can struggling to cope with the challenges of displacement and migration. in a humane and positive way.