On 24 October 2024, the Infectious diseases programme of the Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases and the Amsterdam Public Health - Global Health programme hosted their second joint symposium. The event focused on Migrant Health: Screening and Prevention, highlighting an important topic in global health research and practice.
Migrant health: A growing global challenge
Currently, around 281 million people—approximately 3.6% of the global population—are international migrants. This diverse group faces unique and complex health challenges influenced by biological factors, the circumstances surrounding their migration journey, and their socioeconomic and legal circumstances. As climate change accelerates global migration, these challenges are expected to become even more pressing in the coming decades.
Research interest in migrant health has been growing, aiming to better describe and define health needs, enhance care access, and design effective interventions for screening and prevention. While traditionally driven by health security concerns, such as infectious disease screening at international borders, there is currently a paradigm shift hapenning towards understanding migrants’ broader health needs. This shift allows screening and prevention efforts to move beyond security-driven approaches benefiting both individuals and society.
Expert insights and key discussions
The symposium brought together leading experts in migrant health to present the latest evidence and discuss innovative approaches to screening and prevention. Speakers included:
- Prof. Abubakar (University College London) - Health and disease in migrants: an outline of epidemiology and possible interventions
- Prof. Agyemang (Amsterdam UMC) - Cardiometabolic diseases in migrants: opportunities in prevention
- Dr. Zenner (Queen Mary University of London and Amsterdam UMC alumnus) - Migrant tuberculosis screening
- Dr. van der Werf (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Sweden) - Screening for viral hepatitis and HIV in migrants
- - Emeritus Prof. van den Muijsenberg (Radboud University) - Migrant screening in The Netherlands: challenges and opportunities
Key takeaways
The symposium highlighted several crucial themes:
- Diverse health risk profiles: Migrants are not a homogenous group, and their health risks vary significantly based on factors such as origin, journey, and settlement conditions. This underscores the need for tailored interventions rather than a "one-size-fits-all" approach.
- Effective communication: Reducing barriers to healthcare requires tailored communication that resonates with migrant communities and addresses their specific concerns.
Conclusion
The symposium was an inspiring event, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to improve migrant health outcomes. By integrating insights from research and practice, the AI&I Infectious diseases programme and APH Global Health programme continue to drive progress in this critical area of global health.
For more information about future events or ongoing research, visit the AI&I and APH websites.
Text: Sabine Hermans and Esmée Vesseur