Barriers to Migrants and Mobile Populations in Accessing Comprehensive HIV Services and Treatment

Migration: how does it affect access to HIV services?

Shakirul IslamBangladesh

Overview of migration

• Cross border Migration

• Labour migration

Flow of labour migration from South Asia

• Total migration in Sub region 30 million• Bangladesh – 6.7 million (1974-2009)• Pakistan – 4.2 million (1971-2007)• Sri Lanka – 1.6 million (1986-2007)• Nepal – 266,66 (2008)

Relations between migration and HIV

• Economic, Socio-cultural and political factors throughout migration process

• Vulnerability to violence, exploitation and abuse

• Separation from social protection systems• Gender relation

Migrant’s susceptibility to HIV

• Low level of knowledge and perception on HIV/AIDS and STDs

• Risk behaviour and sexual practices

• In Bangladesh, among identified cases of HIV/AIDS, 60%-70% are either returnee migrants or their spouses or children

Challenges of migrants in accessing HIV services

• Health rights of migrants is neglected in related policies and practices

• Migrants are ignored in National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS

• No coverage of services for labour migrants• Unethical practices of mandatory testing and

forced deportation• Lack of information, cultural differences,

language barriers, isolated working conditions, undocumented status etc.

Actions need for..• Specifically address health rights of

migrants in relevant policies and laws• Incorporate migrant population in national

strategic plan for migrant specific prevention and treatment programmes both in host and origin countries

• Institute independent monitoring system to ensure proper practices of policies and laws

• Discard HIV status as an exclusionary condition

Lets join our hands together to ensure migrants’ access to HIV

services….

Thank you