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It gives me great pleasure in
addressing you on the occasion of this important Meeting discussing a
‘Regional Action Plan on Migration and Refugee Health’ organised by WHO
Europe in this beautiful island of Cyprus on the 25 and 26 April of 2023. I
would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to all our
honoured guests from neighbouring regions of Europe, Africa and Eastern
Mediterranean and I sincerely hope that you shall have some time to enjoy
some Cyprus hospitality in the island of Aphrodite.
The aim of this meeting is to
discuss a road map for a new regional action plan on migrant and refugee
health. Displacement and migration continue to be a social, political and
public health reality for the Member States of the WHO European region and
beyond. The WHO Regional Office for Europe led by Dr Hans Kluge Regional
Director is developing this new
action plan for refugee and migrant health in the WHO European Region of 2023
to 2030 in full consultation with Member States and key
partners. We are very proud that this Europe wide consultation is taking
place here in Larnaca, Cyprus. The meeting will be a milestone in defining
regional work on health and migration going forward and we fully support
these joint efforts in this field. This meeting will be an opportunity to
reflect on lessons learnt from the previous action plan and on current
challenges and opportunities for the future of migrant and refugee health.
Taking forward the priorities
of the expired Action Plan for Refugee and Migrant Health in the WHO European
Region 2016-2022, the new draft action plan is structured according to the
five pillars of action endorsed and reviewed by the Migration Technical
Advisory Group of WHO Europe within the current context and evidence base.
Regarding the timeline of events, the final draft action plan shall be shared
with the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee in June 2023 before
being submitted for consideration at the 73rd session of the
Regional Committee in October 2023.
The draft Regional Action Plan
for Refugee and Migrant Health in the WHO European Region 2023-2030 aims to
support countries to make health for all, including refugees and migrants, a
reality. The purpose of the action plan is to articulate a common vision for health and
migration to contribute to resourceful and resilient populations and an
economy of well-being for all.
In the spirit of leaving no one behind,
the action plan aims to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals 2030. It also aims to translate and operationalize global
instruments on health and migration, including the Global Action Plan on
Promoting the Health of Refugees and Migrants, in the regional context and in
accordance with regional priorities.
The action plan addresses five strategic priorities in
coherence with the vision.
- Ensuring
refugees and migrants benefit from universal health coverage
- Implementing
inclusive emergency and disaster risk reduction policies
- Developing
inclusive environments that promote
human rights, social inclusion, health and well being
- Strengthening
migration and health
governance and evidence and data-driven
policymaking
- Exploring innovative ways
of working and developing enabling partnerships
The participation of so many
countries demonstrates the importance for this region of developing a
concerted action plan to deal with the refugee and migration crisis and this
can only be tackled through regional and global cooperation. The world is
changing rapidly with climate change, health and humanitarian emergencies and
demographic shifts presenting important consequences for health and migration
now and in the future. We support the right to health for all but we
emphasize the need for shared responsibility in this context acknowledging
the stretched capacity of many health and social systems in the region.
Health and migration is a global health issue and can only be addressed in a
robust and sustainable way by building international and interregional
solidarity and cooperation through a whole- of- route approach
During the second day of our
meeting, officers from the Ministry of Health shall present to you the
specific actions of the Republic of Cyprus regarding the following subjects.
- Access
of migrants and refugees to healthcare services in Cyprus
- Specific
standard operating procedures that are followed
- Vaccination
programme for migrants and refugees
- National
programme for identification and management of communicable diseases in
refugees and migrants in the Republic of Cyprus.
The Republic of Cyprus fully
endorses the development of this action plan and recognises that health is a
fundamental human right and a key driver of peace, solidarity, inclusion and
stability.
I would like to thank the WHO
Europe Region, Director for his initiative to organize this event. I would
also like to wish that this workshop proves to be both fruitful and pivotal
in forming a comprehensive policy.
(DC)
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