Contemporary Migrant Health

Dear Colleagues,

One in seven of world population is today voluntarily or forcibly migrating. The vast majority of contemporary migrants moves within national boundaries, yet estimated 272 million people have crossed and international border in seek of better living opportunities or international protection. With persisting poverty, inequalities, unresolved and lasting conflicts, human rights abuses and violence in many parts of the world, and natural and man-made disasters even too often linked to climate and environmental changes, migratory trends are at a steady increase for the foreseeable future. Migration - in all its political, economic, social and human dimensions - must be effectively managed, for the seemly benefit of migrants, their communities of origin and destination, and for collective interest. Health is an integral part of a well-managed migration, yet inclusive, equitable, and migration-sensitive health systems, and a Universal Health Coverage (UHC) meant to meet the health needs of migrants are far from being realized. Political impediments, the lacking of knowledge on viable models and sustainable solutions, or just insufficient awareness and compelling evidence for policy enhancement and targeted interventions are some of the adverse factors in this endeavor that this special issue intends to analyze.

The interlinkage between population movements and the cross-border international spread of diseases has been a long-standing public health concern. Yet, the recognition of migration as a determinant of health and a factor impacting in diverse forms on the physical, mental, and social health and well-being of migrants is rather recent. This new awareness has propelled the theme of the health of migrants, refugees, displaced people, other mobile groups and surrounding communities to the forefront of the global attention within both, the public and global health discourse, and the migration policy and governance debates. Increasingly migration is seen as a contributor to development, and the health of migrants as a right and an unavoidable component of people’s safe movement and social or regional integration. Though evidence and systematic data gathering on the health of migrants is still scarce, existing knowledge shows that in most cases, the improved socio-economic conditions migrants meet in their destination countries yield positive health outcomes. However, for many migrants – particularly those in most vulnerable circumstances – the adverse situations experienced along their journey and at destination, limited access to health care and prevention, socio-economic disadvantages, marginalization, discrimination and neglect, too often translate into illnesses and harm. In the case of the COVID-19, migrants and displaced population have suffered the most the consequences of the pandemic. In another hand, the pandemic has demonstrated unequivocally that in a globalized world and in interconnected societies nobody save himself alone, and that social exclusion pays no public health dividends. Migration bridges a world of disparities, and global health security cannot be realized in the contemporary world without a marked degree of individual health security, regardless of migratory status.

This Special Issue of the journal seeks contributions from authors who can advance understanding and knowledge on current and future challenges in promoting the agenda of health for refugee and migrants, gaps, new priorities and opportunities. We are especially interested in papers that describe innovative practices, replicable models, new policy development, cross-sector partnerships and frameworks for cooperation, across the spectrum of human rights, sustainable development, public health, disease control, climate change, research, etc., as they relate to health and migration.

We welcome any other contributions able to advance understanding on regional-specific challenges and priorities, migrant vulnerable groups, disease-specific contexts and approaches, the place health of migrants has in global processes, such as the implementation of the Global Compacts for Refugees and Migrants, the advancement of UHC, the new commitments to address climate and environment changes, and the fight against COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Prof. Dr. Davide T. Mosca
Guest Editor

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• Migrant Health
• Displaced people
• Climate Change
• UHC
• Integration
• COVID-19
• Right to health