As migration in Latin America continues to surge, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is warning of the pressing health needs of vulnerable migrant populations, particularly women, children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.
According to the IFRC study presented, “Migration and Health in the Americas: needs and services assessment”, these groups face growing barriers to accessing health services and suffer a lack of comprehensive health care in transit and destination countries.
The study compiles data from 2021 to 2023 and explores the nutritional status, rates of vaccination, rates of chronic and infectious disease, mental health, and health-seeking behavior of migrants by age group. One of the main findings is that insufficient health services and barriers to access them are putting lives at risk, exacerbating health inequalities, and placing immense strain on already fragile national health systems.
“Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, and the barriers faced by migrants -whether due to their irregular status, lack of documentation, or fear of deportation – must be dismantled. It is essential to provide comprehensive healthcare that meets the diverse needs of migrant populations, from basic medical care to specialized treatments for chronic conditions, mental health support, and disability services,” said Pedro Porrino, IFRC’s Health in Emergencies Coordinator for the Americas.
Regardless of age, healthcare remains a critical issue for migrants in both transit and destination countries. Among in-transit migrants, some 60 to 70% require healthcare, with general medical services being the most needed. Sexual and reproductive healthcare is also a high priority, with over 40% of migrants expressing a need for these services. Migrants in destination countries face similar challenges, with up to 74% requiring healthcare services, including maternal and pediatric care, chronic disease management, mental health services, and specialized care.
These findings are confirmed by Red Cross teams on the ground in 22 countries in the Americas. In Panama, Red Cross humanitarian service points have provided nearly 750,000 services in the last six years, most of them to migrants in need of first aid, general medicine, mental health support, access to clean water, vaccines, and sexual and reproductive healthcare.
In Ecuador, El Salvador,r and Guatemala, Red Cross volunteers have provided humanitarian assistance, mainly primary healthcare (the first point of contact with a healthcare system), to nearly 200 migrants per day in the last two years, with a total of 143,438 people assisted. In Argentina, Honduras,s and on the southern border of Mexico, Red Cross teams provided medical care to over 6500 migrants in the first six months of this year alone.
“Addressing the health needs of migrants should be a priority and recognizing the role of local Red Cross teams in providing them with care, relief, and dignity is an opportunity for governments and donors to guarantee migrants’ right to health. By partnering with the Red Cross, countries can not only facilitate humanitarian assistance but also alleviate pressure on their public health systems,” said Martha Keays, IFRC Regional Director for the Americas.
IFRC humanitarian service points will continue to provide humanitarian assistance in countries of origin, transit, and destination in the coming months, as the number of people heading north is expected to remain one of the continent’s biggest and most under-resourced humanitarian challenges.
