On December 12 and 13, 2017, the Prolepsis Institute organized an international educational visit in Athens focused on issues regarding the health of immigrants and refugees, in cooperation with EuroHealthNet (the European Partnership for Improving Health, Equity, and Wellbeing). Among the participants in the Country Exchange Visit were representatives of various bodies from Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, as well as representatives of bodies based in Greece, active in providing health services to immigrants and refugees, such as the Greek Ministry of Migration Policy, the Agency of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Hellenic Center for Disease Control & Prevention (KEELPNO).

 

The Country Exchange Visit consisted of lengthy discussions on issues concerning the living conditions of the immigrant and refugee population in Greece, the major problems emerging during the procedures of movement and relocation to other countries, as well as the negative effects of such difficulties on physical and mental health. Significant European initiatives in the field of health and in reducing inequalities in the field of health care were also presented. The Prolepsis Institute presented Mig-HealthCare, a project that aims to facilitate the access of refugees and immigrants to health care and support their integration into European communities, as well as the PROMOVAX Programme, which aims to promote vaccinations among migrant population in Europe.

 

During the Country Exchange Visit on-site visits to the open refugee hosting structure of Elaionas, the Day Center of the organisation Doctors without Borders and the Day Center “Babel” were organized. The participants had the opportunity to witness first-hand the conditions under which immigrants and refugees live. They had discussions with the coordinators and with doctors, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals in the health field working in those structures, and they were informed of the vulnerability issues and the special needs that this population has to deal with. 

 

The participants underlined the need to improve the communication between actors, countries and the EU, and to intensify the advocative actions for the EU to assume responsibility and take effective initiatives, in order to protect and improve the health of immigrants and refugees. 

 

EuroHealthNet, which is seated in Brussels and member whereof is the Prolepsis Institute, regularly organizes exchange visits between European public health organizations which are co-financed by the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI). The visits encourage the exchange of best practices and policies on issues promoting health.

 

The Prolepsis Institute is the lead partner of the Mig-HealthCare programme, which aims to reduce health inequalities by improving the services for the physical and mental health of immigrants and refugees. More information about the Mig-HealthCare project can be found here.