Libyan official laments lack of appropriate cross-sectoral policies on refugee and migrant health
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya's Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Health in the Government of National Unity, Ramadan Abu Jnah, has deplored the "serious consequences" of the lack of appropriate intersectoral policies on the health of refugees and migrants worldwide.
Speaking at the second World Health Organization (WHO) interregional high-level meeting on refugee and migrant health, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Thursday, Mr. Abu Jnah said the duty to protect the health of refugees and migrants was a burden on the Libyan state.
This is because migrants have the right to benefit from health services and necessary medical care on the same footing as Libyan citizens, without distinction or discrimination.
He added that this places a great responsibility on the state if the level of services decreases or they are exposed to crises due to lack of resources and medical supplies, according to a statement issued by the Libyan Ministry of Health.
The Libyan official called on member states and international organizations and bodies to redouble their efforts to establish effective partnerships in which the human and development dimensions are linked, and which take into account all the security, economic, financial, health, social and climatic challenges that Libya faces as a transit country for migrants.
The WHO Interregional Meeting on Refugee and Migrant Health brought together representatives of Member States from the WHO regions of Africa, Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, other international organizations and development partners from 16 to 17 March in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
The meeting reviewed developments since the first high-level meeting on health and migration, held in Istanbul, Turkey, in March 2022, which aimed to maintain momentum and reaffirm commitment to further work to promote the health of refugees and migrants in the three WHO regions and beyond.
The second meeting focused on promoting universal health coverage for refugees and migrants through a pathways approach, with representatives from the three WHO regions sharing good practices related to equitable access to health care for refugees and migrants, including support for mental health, psychosocial support and disability.
The meeting stressed the importance of integrating refugees and migrants into emergency preparedness and response strategies, addressing the social determinants of health and promoting good governance and strong partnerships for health and migration.
This meeting renews commitments to prioritize refugee and migrant health in international and regional agendas, which are based on the principles of solidarity, humanity, human rights and sustainable development.
The WHO Regions for Africa, Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, and the participants in this meeting, committed themselves to concerted action to promote progress towards the achievement of universal health coverage and to encourage the inclusion of refugees and migrants in national health policies and plans through migration, communication channels and in humanitarian settings.
The representatives also committed to working together to advance partnerships and identify opportunities for collaboration across migration channels to address some of the most pressing issues, including climate change, the root causes of forced displacement and access to health care for refugees and irregular migrants.
-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/RA 17March2023
