Mission Vulnerable Migrants
Beneficiaires :
» 89% of first-time patients in the CASOs are foreign nationals.
» Of these, 72% have uncertain or irregular immigration status.
Countries of origin :
» Romania, Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon, Tunisia…
Common conditions :
» Viral hepatitis, gum and teeth problems, irritable bowel syndrome, back problems, respiratory infections, asthma, high blood pressure, anxiety-stress-somatic problems...
» 1/4 of migrants seen are not receiving any treatment and 86% do not have access to healthcare (although they could,in theory, have access) when they first come to an MdM CASO.
Volunteers:
» more than 2,000
Funding:
» Regional public health groups, General Councils, Regional Councils, Town Councils…
Partners:
» CASP, Cimade, Gisti, LDH, Anafé, CFDA, Comede, involvement in the ODSE, local and regional voluntary sector co-ordination bodies.
Recent legislation on immigration has led to further deterioration in the living conditions of foreign nationals living in France. This has included removal of the right to regularisation after living in France for ten years, toughening of family reunification rules, a fall in the numbers of people awarded refugee status, change in the law on regularisations for medical reasons, difficulties in renewing visas, and guidelines recommending intervention within medical establishments or during appearances at the prefecture to arrest irregular migrants…
Improving the health of vulnerable migrants
Activities:
Access to free healthcare in hospitals is still a dream: there are many PASS (healthcare access offices) which don’t work, the guidelines enabling urgent treatment leave out a considerable number of people who as a result have no access to care.
Spotlight on two programmes: Calais and Mayotte
In Calais, there were 397 medical consultations for migrants. There was also active participation in the
PASS steering committee and sustained lobbying for the creation of healthcare beds in shelters (medical
facilities for homeless people).
In Mayotte, 356 consultations (including 189 medical consultations) were carried out on 225 patients.
Of these patients, 94% were foreign nationals (98% from the Comores). Forty percent of patients seen
had experienced a delay in accessing healthcare: economic barriers and fear of travelling were the main obstacles to healthcare reported.
Healthcare centres
The 21 Healthcare and Guidance Centres (CASOs) saw 24,092 service users in 2007: 38,034 medical
consultations and 11,233 social consultations were carried out. Service users were referred to mainstream services and voluntary sector services which were able to provide care.
Outlook:
MdM continues to campaign for everyone to be able to access healthcare, irrespective of their status.
Mission France continues to develop prevention programmes and screening for HIV, hepatitis and STIs, as well mental health programmes. Working in 12 European countries, MdM has created the European observatory on access to healthcare, which aims to improve access to healthcare for vulnerable migrants in Europe and to testify to the difficulties they experience. In addition, the observatory is involved in lobbying EU institutions.
Types of work:
• Medical consultations, specialist consultations, social consultations, referral to specialist organisations (lawyers etc) using interpreting services.
• Lobbying for the implementation of appropriate healthcare services: PASS, healthcare beds in shelters…
• Health promotion outreach activities.
• Bearing witness to the living conditions and difficulties in accessing healthcare, prevention and other rights experienced by these populations.
August 2008