International Conference in Fes: Health of Refugees and Migrants

Over 150 people are attending the international conference, representing the ministries of health, IOM, WHO, and UNHCR from Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Yemen, and Iraq, as well as researchers, academics, and civil society representatives from Canada, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are jointly organizing with the Université Euromed de Fès (UEMF), on October 29 and 30, 2024, an international conference dedicated to the health of refugee and migrant populations.

This international meeting, hosted by UEMF on its premises, brings together key actors at the national, regional, and international levels to address the health challenges faced by these populations as well as best practices for responding to their health needs. "As a university committed to societal issues, it is our duty to actively contribute to finding solutions to guarantee equitable access to healthcare for all, including migrant and refugee populations, often among the most vulnerable," noted Professor Chakib Nejjari, Vice-President of UEMF in charge of the Health Academic Division.

"Guaranteeing access to healthcare for migrant and refugee populations is essential to strengthening health equity," stated Ms. Maryam Bigdeli, WHO Representative in Morocco on this occasion, who also recalled that "Universal health coverage is not just a goal, it is a necessity to eliminate barriers to accessing care and promote the well-being of all. By ensuring accessible and inclusive health services, we contribute to reducing inequalities and the sustainable development of societies."

Among the objectives of this conference is the presentation of good practices adopted in the MENA region to improve the health of migrants and refugees. It will also be an opportunity to debate the central role of universities in developing policies and programs based on scientific data. The Fez international conference therefore examines the progress made in the field of refugee and migrant health within the framework of these reforms and Morocco's international commitments in this area.

"Removing barriers to healthcare access for refugees and migrants is a public health imperative that ensures the right to health," recalled the UNHCR Representative in Morocco, Mr. François Reybet-Degat. "Furthermore, healthy migrants and refugees can effectively contribute to the development of their host society as well as their society of origin," he added.

Recommendations aimed at improving access to care for migrants and refugees throughout their migratory journeys will be identified during these two days. Laura Palatini, Chief of Mission of IOM in Morocco, specified in this regard that: "Digitizing the medical records of refugee and migrant patients and strengthening South-South cooperation constitute promising avenues of action for the continuity of care. In this respect, this conference is a major opportunity to initiate coordinated action between countries of origin, transit, and destination."

This international conference is organized within the framework of the regional project "Promoting the health and protection of vulnerable migrant populations in Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and Yemen," funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.