International Forum on Migration Statistics (IFMS)
19–1 January 2020 Cairo, Egypt
The International Forum on Migration Statistics (IFMS) is a global platform devoted to improving data on migration in all its dimensions. It is organized by the International Organization for Migration, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and offers space for dialogue for a variety of actors from national and regional authorities, nongovernmental organizations, international agencies and the private sector.
The second IFMS took place in Cairo on19–21 January 2020 with the aim of improving the collection and analysis of migration data worldwide. The WHO Regional Office for Europe contributed a session on strengthening data availability through the implementation of an international policy framework and targeted evidence synthesis in the Region. Taking the Strategy and action plan for refugee and migrant health in the WHO European Region as an example, panellists discussed how to improve refugee- and migrant-sensitive health information systems.
Session on strengthening data availability through the implementation of an international policy framework and targeted evidence synthesis in the WHO European Region
The aim of the session was to discuss data types and variables that are routinely collected within national health systems. Availability of appropriate refugee and migrant health data is a precondition for data- and evidence-informed policies and interventions, which can improve the health and lives of refugees and migrants.
The session was chaired by Soorej J. Puthoopparambil (University of Uppsala). The first speaker was Dr Elisabeth Waagensen (Migration and Health programme at the WHO Regional office for Europe), who presented the current migration situation in the WHO European Region and the regional Strategy and action plan. Her presentation was followed by a presentation from Ms Rosa Jahn (University of Heidelberg), who gave an overview of the findings of the WHO Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report 66, which spotlighted the availability of health data on refugees and migrants in the Region. The country-specific perspective was kindly presented by Dr Evika Karamagioli (University of Athens), who gave a passionate and informative presentation of the current situation in Greece and emphasized the need for strengthening data collection and data sharing across national and international platforms. Dr Tonia Rifaey (WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region) contextualized the complexity of the issue with a presentation on the regional situation in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.
The panellists shed light on the complexity and diverse perspectives required to understand the need for migration health data. During the discussion, participants displayed a deep recognition of the issue and presented the unique challenges that they encountered in their own regions, for example with technological infrastructure, language barriers or political contexts. One key outcome of the discussion with the audience was a call for recommendations on the specific data that should be collected by Member States.
For further information, please find below the presentations of the session.