80 likes | 247 Views
Barriers to Migrants and Mobile Populations in Accessing Comprehensive HIV Services and Treatment. Migration: how does it affect access to HIV services? Shakirul Islam Bangladesh. Overview of migration. Cross border Migration Labour migration . Flow of labour migration from South Asia.
E N D
Barriers to Migrants and Mobile Populations in Accessing Comprehensive HIV Services and Treatment Migration: how does it affect access to HIV services? Shakirul Islam Bangladesh
Overview of migration • Cross border Migration • Labour migration
Flow of labour migration from South Asia • Total migration in Sub region 30 million • Bangladesh – 6.7 million (1974-2009) • Pakistan – 4.2 million (1971-2007) • Sri Lanka – 1.6 million (1986-2007) • Nepal – 266,66 (2008)
Relations between migration and HIV • Economic, Socio-cultural and political factors throughout migration process • Vulnerability to violence, exploitation and abuse • Separation from social protection systems • Gender relation
Low level of knowledge and perception on HIV/AIDS and STDs Risk behaviour and sexual practices In Bangladesh, among identified cases of HIV/AIDS, 60%-70% are either returnee migrants or their spouses or children Migrant’s susceptibility to HIV
Challenges of migrants in accessing HIV services • Health rights of migrants is neglected in related policies and practices • Migrants are ignored in National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS • No coverage of services for labour migrants • Unethical practices of mandatory testing and forced deportation • Lack of information, cultural differences, language barriers, isolated working conditions, undocumented status etc.
Actions need for.. • Specifically address health rights of migrants in relevant policies and laws • Incorporate migrant population in national strategic plan for migrant specific prevention and treatment programmes both in host and origin countries • Institute independent monitoring system to ensure proper practices of policies and laws • Discard HIV status as an exclusionary condition
Lets join our hands together to ensure migrants’ access to HIV services…. Thank you