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Published in: Conflict and Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Letter to Editor

Access to healthcare for the most vulnerable migrants: a humanitarian crisis

Authors: Kevin Pottie, Jorge Pedro Martin, Stephen Cornish, Linn Maria Biorklund, Ivan Gayton, Frank Doerner, Fabien Schneider

Published in: Conflict and Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

A series of Médecins Sans Frontières projects for irregular migrants over the past decade have consistently documented high rates of 14 physical and sexual trauma, extortion and mental illness amidst severe healthcare, food, and housing limitations. Complex interventions were needed to begin to address illness and barriers to healthcare and to help restore dignity to the most vulnerable women, children and men. Promising interventions included mobile clinics, use of cultural mediators, coordination with migrant-friendly entities and NGOs and integrating advocacy programs and mental health care with medical services. Ongoing interventions, research and coordination are needed to address this neglected humanitarian crisis.
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Metadata
Title
Access to healthcare for the most vulnerable migrants: a humanitarian crisis
Authors
Kevin Pottie
Jorge Pedro Martin
Stephen Cornish
Linn Maria Biorklund
Ivan Gayton
Frank Doerner
Fabien Schneider
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Conflict and Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1752-1505
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-015-0043-8

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