Throughout the migration cycle, governments of origin and sending countries treat migrant workers as a commodity. Their well being or protection of health rights are ignored largely. Migrant workers suffer from various health issues such as discrimination, lack of access to health and HIV preventive information, lack of access to treatment, counseling, referral and access to ARTs for HIV positive migrant workers, mandatory health and HIV testing etc.
Thus using various aspects of human rights and health rights frameworks, CARAM Asia developed the Migration, Health and HIV (MHH) programme by combining the previous TFEM and SoH programme to focus on migrant workers health rights including the issue of HIV and AIDS. The objective of MHH is to promote equity health care for migrant workers so that their access to health services and HIV prevention, care and support is facilitated.
This programme will also pay special attention on the health and well-being of undocumented migrant workers, with special focus on those going through detention and deportation. Sexual and reproductive health and rights, empowerment of migrants living with HIV and their spouses to be meaningfully involved in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and policies addressing HIV & AIDS and migration issues are an integral part of MHH Task Force.
Key Priorities:
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Mandatory Testing – on all health conditions including HIV – leading to universal access
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HIV- prevention addressing HIV vulnerability and risks /Migrants living with HIV (TCS including Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), reintegration, Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA)
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Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH)
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Mental Health
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Health in Detention
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Occupational Health and Safety
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Read about CARAM Asia’s GIPA Statement . Visit the blog for this programme here.
Read more on CARAM Asia’s call for the Removal of Mandatory HIV Testing for Migrant Workers.
Task Force Members
Convener
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Mr. Brahm Press, Executive Director, Migrant Assiatance Program (MAP) Foundation, Thailand
Members
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Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP), Bangladesh
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Services for Health in Asia and African Regions (SHARE), Japan
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St. John’s Cathedral HIV Education Center, Hong Kong
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Community Development Services(CDS), Sri Lanka
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Action for Health Initiatives (ACHIEVE), Phillipines
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CARAM Cambodia, Cambodia
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Korea HIV / AIDS Prevention & Support (KHAP), Korea
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Heralo Academy, Nepal
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AMAL Human Development Network, Pakistan