Lack of maternal, child healthcare make migrant women more vulnerable
Sunday, 8 March 2009
A senior official of the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) called for accessible, acceptable and affordable maternal and child health services for all migrants to lessen the vulnerability of women to migration, reports BSS.
"Women and girls, especially when forced to migrate or when in an irregular situation, are disproportionately affected by the risks of migration because of their vulnerability to exploitation and violence," he said.
Deputy Director General of IOM Ndioro Ndiaye made the call on the eve of International Women's Day saying that the migrant-hosting communities should be more friendly with the migrant women keeping in view their safety and security.
"The vulnerability is being worsened to unacceptable levels by the lack of access to appropriate maternal and child health services in particular, which can have a long-term public and social cost," Ndioro Ndiaye said.
He said maternal and child health, often thought of as preventive care, could and did lead to life-threatening situations with tragic results because problems have not been spotted in good time or because the right skills and treatment are unavailable.
"Babies and children of women who have not had ante-natal care can be more susceptible to problems such as premature births and growth and development issues," he added.
Lack of access to maternal and child health services can also be responsible for poor health among migrant communities which in the long term puts a greater strain on health systems in host societies.
Failure of undertaking an immunisation programme not only could impact on outbreaks of communicable diseases, but also affect a child's access to school, he said.
According to the IOM official, the irregular migrant women and women who are forced to migrate, such as internally displaced or asylum-seekers are at the most risk across the globe.
"The fear of deportation is a major barrier for many irregular migrants seeking care as the priority is to stay hidden in society. The best they can hope for in destination countries is emergency care, and maternal and child health doesn't fall into this bracket until it is too late," Ndiaye added.
Even when migrant women living and working legally in another country having access to health care, Ndiaye said, it was not always "migrant friendly".
Cultural differences, language barriers and xenophobic attitudes could and did impact on a migrant's ability to get the necessary care she needed, he added.
"Women and girls, especially when forced to migrate or when in an irregular situation, are disproportionately affected by the risks of migration because of their vulnerability to exploitation and violence," he said.
Deputy Director General of IOM Ndioro Ndiaye made the call on the eve of International Women's Day saying that the migrant-hosting communities should be more friendly with the migrant women keeping in view their safety and security.
"The vulnerability is being worsened to unacceptable levels by the lack of access to appropriate maternal and child health services in particular, which can have a long-term public and social cost," Ndioro Ndiaye said.
He said maternal and child health, often thought of as preventive care, could and did lead to life-threatening situations with tragic results because problems have not been spotted in good time or because the right skills and treatment are unavailable.
"Babies and children of women who have not had ante-natal care can be more susceptible to problems such as premature births and growth and development issues," he added.
Lack of access to maternal and child health services can also be responsible for poor health among migrant communities which in the long term puts a greater strain on health systems in host societies.
Failure of undertaking an immunisation programme not only could impact on outbreaks of communicable diseases, but also affect a child's access to school, he said.
According to the IOM official, the irregular migrant women and women who are forced to migrate, such as internally displaced or asylum-seekers are at the most risk across the globe.
"The fear of deportation is a major barrier for many irregular migrants seeking care as the priority is to stay hidden in society. The best they can hope for in destination countries is emergency care, and maternal and child health doesn't fall into this bracket until it is too late," Ndiaye added.
Even when migrant women living and working legally in another country having access to health care, Ndiaye said, it was not always "migrant friendly".
Cultural differences, language barriers and xenophobic attitudes could and did impact on a migrant's ability to get the necessary care she needed, he added.