How to address the health vulnerabilities of labour migrants and
displaced people in Southern Africa will be a key point of
discussion during a three-day regional gathering next week (10-12
June) in Tanzania.

Focusing on promoting the health of migrants in the region, the
Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA), the meeting will
bring together policy-makers, health and migration officials from
the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states as
well as inter and non-governmental organizations.

Organized by IOM in partnership with the Southern African
Migration Project (SAMP), the World Health Organization and the
Tanzanian government and with support from the Swedish development
agency, Sida, it will also examine local, national and regional
responses to addressing the health vulnerabilities of migrants in
the region.

With more people travelling and to more destinations, either in
search of work or safety, human mobility in Southern Africa is
increasingly impacting upon the health of migrants as well as on
the public health of countries in the region. Limited or no access
to health care due to legal, economic, language or socio-cultural
factors, results in marginalization of various migrant groups.

Irregular migrants in Southern Africa, as elsewhere in the
world, are especially vulnerable to health risks as they are often
exposed to sub-standard living and/or exploitative working
conditions and poverty.

"Addressing the well-being of migrants is a long-term investment
as well as respecting migrants' rights. Failure to pay adequate
attention to the health needs of migrants can negatively impact on
the public health of host countries.  Well-managed migration
health, on the other hand, facilitates the integration of migrants
within communities, contributes to stable societies, and ultimately
enhances development for all," says Hans-Petter Boe, IOM Regional
Representative for Southern Africa.

MIDSA is a consultative process for SADC states (Angola,
Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique,
Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and
Zimbabwe) initiated in 1999 allowing members to meet in an informal
and non-binding scenario and to exchange views on common challenges
and solutions on migration issues.

For more information please contact:

Nosipho Theyise

Tel: +27 12 342 2789

E-mail: "mailto:ntheyise@iom.int">ntheyise@iom.int