A Project to Improve Health Care among Migrant Population

February 20 saw the kick-off of a project whose aim is to improve health data collection in the framework of the healthcare programme for migrants in Nador, Morocco. The initiative, funded by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID) and led by ASTICUDE and ISGlobal, will help ensure adequate health care for these populations.

Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) consider migration a major global health challenge. Over the last years, Morocco has undergone changes because of the migratory flow, not only as a transit country towards Europe but also as a destination country. Given their geographic situation, the provinces of Nador and Tanger concentrate a high number of migrants. The Moroccan Ministry of Health has launched a couple of initiatives over the last year aimed at ensuring access to health care for the migrant population.  

“One of the main gaps identified is the lack of data that helps us assess the main health problems among migrants and improve interventions to provide them with adequate health care,” explains Ana Requena, ISGlobal research and member of the project team. 

“The project will complement ASTICUDE’s work and is a great opportunity to strengthen the links between both institutions, work hand in hand and identify new opportunities,” explains Anna Rosés, ISGlobal project coordinator in Morocco.

The data collection system will be improved throughthe use of a new software that will help rise quality standards, obtain new data and adapt their collection to new programmes and projects. The regional health authority, which contributed to the program design from the beginning, has expressed its satisfaction with this new opportunity in the region. 

The launch event, that lasted two days, was attended by ASTICUDE president, Abdeslam Amakhtari, and team members from both institutions that will implement the project. They worked on issues such as the new system, coordination and communication mechanisms, possible challenges, and potential health indicators. The participation of the ISGlobal team that travelled from Barcelona was key for the analysis of technical and economical aspects of the project.