IOM-MHD: Launching special website focused on migration and tuberculosis

Dear Colleagues/Partners,

On the occasion of World TB Day 2014, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is pleased to announce a special website focused on migration and tuberculosis (TB) (http://health.iom.int/). This website is a first showcase of key actions to address TB among migrants and we hope to further enhance it with information and materials from the field, and our partners.

For several decades now, we have been at the forefront of TB and migration activities around the world through migrant health assessments, health promotion programmes and emergency health projects.

“…Find, Treat, Cure TB”…Let this be a message – not for one single day, but for the years to come, as our Member States and partners look for health and development solutions for migration in the post-2015 era.

Let us all remember the risks of TB infection faced by our migrant beneficiaries and communities at all points of the migration process – from disease burden at origin; precarious conditions & rights violations during travel; poor living & working conditions and barriers to healthcare at destination, and lack of continuity of care throughout the migration cycle, including return.

Let us not forget refugees, immigrants, displaced persons and other migrants, and the pressing need to achieve equitable health care access for them, as we remember the three million persons “missed” by TB prevention, treatment and control efforts around the world.

Let us work on better migrant TB monitoring, ensure migrant-sensitive TB health services, implement evidence-based policy frameworks and strengthen multisectoral partnerships.

Together, let us commit to reach, find, treat and cure TB among migrants, enabling healthy migration and healthy communities in all countries.

Dr Davide T. Mosca, M.D.
Director, Migration Health Division
IOM- International Organization for Migration
17, route des Morillons
CH-1211 Geneva 19 -Switzerland