DUSHANBE, October 4, 2011, Asia-Plus – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Tajikistan last month launched a new project, Improving Chinese Labor Migrants’ Access to Health Services in Tajikistan, après release issued by IOM Tajikistan on October 3 said.
The project is reportedly made possible through the financial contribution of the IOM 1035 Facility, an internal funding mechanism of the International Organization for Migration.
Although the exact number of Chinese labor migrants in Tajikistan is unknown, one fact is indisputable: it is a growing phenomenon. The estimated number of Chinese nationals in Tajikistan today reaches as high as 82,000.
Taking into account changing situation Tajikistan faces a number of challenges in terms of managing the health related impacts of labor migration. It is important to study the dynamics and prospects of Chinese migration, particularly their work places and working conditions, networks, health status and access to health care facilities, coordination between sending and destination countries.
The overarching goal of IOM’s new project is to assist the Government of Tajikistan in its efforts to implement the Resolution on the “Health of Migrants,” adopted by the 61st World Health Assembly through timely research, the development of migrant-sensitive policies and services, and the promotion of foreign migrants’ health in Tajikistan.
The foundation of the project is set within three key principles of public health: 1) to avoid differences between migrants and native population with respects to health status and accessibility to health services; 2) to provide migrants rights to health; and 3) to minimize the negative consequences of the migration process to the migrants’ health status.
The new project will play an important role in strengthening the capacity of governmental and civil society organizations to improve health services for foreign migrant workers while taking into account their health issues and specifics of their cultural characteristics. During the project, IOM will thereby develop information and educational materials in the migrants’ native language(s) on prevention of communicable diseases and other health problems facing Chinese migrant workers.
The project will contribute to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment, while additional project activities will help eliminate negative stereotypes and discrimination against migrants in the host society.
