Global Collaboration for: Reproductive Justice
Bernadette N. Kumar, MD, PhD
Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Chair Global Society MERH; EUPHA Migrant and Ethnic Minority Health, Co Chair Lancet Migration
ROMOMATTER FINAL CONFERENCE
16.06.2021
Dr. Sally Hargreaves, St. Georges London/ECDC
Dr.Santino Severoni WHO Geneva
Prof. David Ingleby
Jill Morrison
Conclusions and Lessons Learned
Barriers in engaging policy makers/stakeholders (in reducing migrant and ethnic minority health inequalities):
where evidence matters where governance matters
- It is not our concern (evidence, description)
- We don’t know what to do (evidence, links)
- We don’t know how to do it (delivery, networks)
- We don’t want to – (levers, incentives, regulations)
- We really don’t want to - ideology, no pressure so public pressure
- We cant afford to – (cost efficacy, cross sectoral, prevention,other things matter more)
LESSONS LEARNED
- The urgent challenge - conclusions into practice.
- Tackling BOTH socioeconomic inequities and those linked to migrant/ethnic minority background
- Tackling BOTH ‘upstream’ measures and ‘downstream’measures
Tackling Inequity within the Health system
- Address up stream initiatives such as Governance, Leadership and Data/Research Issues
- Continue to address (formal and informal) barriers to accessing services
- Advocate for ensuring legal entitlements are in place (in particular for those that fall outside the system- in an irregular situation)
- Adopt and implement migrant/ ethnic minority health policies
WAY FORWARD ……
- Knowledge/Data and Research
- We know the what but the why and how remain
- Inequalities will remain undetected and unexplained.
- Governance and Policy
- Strengthen the leadership of efforts to improve health protection for MEM groups in each country
- Exclusion of migrants and ethnic minorities and other disadvantaged groups from national responses countries hinder full health protection for all.
- Apply an intersectoral, ‘whole-of-government’ approach to protecting MEM’ health, including health impact analyses of policies outside the health sector.
- Equity is the Best Practise
- Equity in migrant, ethnic minorities and other excluded or hard-to-reach communities
- National Responses MUST include user engagement for prevention, protection and rehabilitation
- Public Health Messaging must continue to adapt and extend reach to those most at risk
Outside health systems
- Equity in all polices
- Inter-sectoral Action required
- Use available evidence to dispel MEM myths
- Work with media to ensure public opinion is not based on misinformation
- Mobility has positive effect on HIC economies and services
https://romomatter.org/final-meeting/Acknowledgements