India: Kerala Health Authorities plan large-scale HIV awareness drive and medical camp

Campaign to address health concerns among migrant workers

A recent spike in reported HIV cases in and around Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district has drawn renewed attention to healthcare challenges among migrant workers. As many as 15 people tested HIV-positive in the area over the past few months.

While the workers who tested HIV-positive are currently undergoing treatment, the emergence of these cases has highlighted the urgent need to address broader healthcare gaps within the migrant community.

In an effort to address the emerging concerns, the Health department, along with the Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS), is jointly organising a mega awareness programme and medical camp on February 22, 2026.

The day will also mark the launch of Niramaya Pravas 2026, a campaign spearheaded by the KSACS in collaboration with various government departments. The initiative focuses on promoting the overall health and well-being of migrant workers across the State.

According to Reshmi Madhavan, joint director, KSACS, health challenges continue to remain a matter of concern among the migrant community. “It is observed that their priority is employment. Health figures as an area of least priority. We need to bring them into the ambit of healthcare with due diligence,” Ms. Madhavan said. According to her, the focus should be on empowering the community to seek medical help when faced with an illness, be it a sexually transmitted disease or any other disease.

“The focus is on creating awareness among the community, getting them medical help and preventing the spread of diseases. Hence, we are planning intensive campaigns across the State targeting the community,” said Ms. Madhavan.

One of the main challenges faced by the department is keeping track of members of the migrant community, officials said. “It has been observed that their focus is on staying employed. So even when diagnosed with a disease, they do not return for follow-up treatment. When we try to track them, they would have moved to other locations for work. The absence of proper registers and documentation is proving to be a challenge,” said Dr. Rosamma P.S., Medical Superintendent, Government Taluk Hospital, Perumbavoor.

Perumbavoor municipal chairperson K.N. Sangeetha said that regular medical camps would also be held to address the healthcare challenges of the region.

Displaced populations face unique health challenges and barriers

Refugee and Migrant Health: Protecting Vulnerable People on the Move

Amina fled Syria in 2015 with her three children after bombs destroyed their neighborhood in Aleppo. The harrowing journey to Europe took three months—traveling by foot, crowded trucks, and a dangerous boat crossing where several fellow passengers drowned. When her family finally reached a refugee camp in Greece, Amina thought their ordeal was over. Instead, new health challenges began. Her youngest daughter developed chronic diarrhea from contaminated water in the overcrowded camp. Her son’s asthma worsened from sleeping in a cold, damp tent with no medication available. Amina herself struggled with severe depression and anxiety from trauma, displacement, and uncertainty about their future. Healthcare at the camp was overwhelmed—one doctor for 5,000 refugees, minimal medicines, no mental health services, and no treatment for chronic diseases.

Amina’s family represents a fraction of the approximately 100 million forcibly displaced people worldwide—the highest number ever recorded. This includes refugees fleeing persecution, conflict, or violence, internally displaced persons forced from homes but remaining within their countries, asylum seekers awaiting refugee status determination, and stateless persons without nationality from any country. Beyond forcibly displaced populations, an additional 280 million international migrants live outside their birth countries for economic opportunities, family reunification, education, or other reasons.

According to the World Health Organization, refugees and migrants often face particular health challenges and barriers to accessing healthcare. While refugees and migrants are not inherently less healthy than host populations—many are young, healthy individuals—the circumstances surrounding migration can create health vulnerabilities. WHO emphasizes that ensuring refugees’ and migrants’ health is important not only for their wellbeing but also for public health and social cohesion in host communities. Health challenges include infectious disease risks from overcrowding in camps, inadequate water and sanitation, interrupted vaccination schedules, and limited access to treatment; noncommunicable disease management disrupted by displacement; maternal and child health vulnerabilities; mental health problems from trauma, violence, loss, and ongoing uncertainty; and injuries from dangerous journeys and violence.

Understanding Refugee and Migrant Populations

Refugees and migrants comprise diverse populations with different legal statuses and health needs. Refugees are people fleeing persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations who have crossed international borders and cannot return safely. They’re protected under international law with specific rights including access to healthcare. The global refugee crisis has escalated dramatically—in 2023, over 36 million people were refugees, the highest number recorded. Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Ukraine produce the largest refugee populations.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are forced from homes by conflict, violence, disasters, or persecution but remain within their countries’ borders. They number approximately 62 million globally, often facing similar health challenges as refugees but lacking international protection. Asylum seekers are people who have applied for refugee status and await decisions. During this period, they face legal uncertainties affecting healthcare access. Migrants broadly include anyone moving across borders temporarily or permanently for work, education, family reunification, or better opportunities. While migration can be voluntary, many “economic migrants” face desperate circumstances including poverty, climate change impacts, and limited opportunities pushing them to seek better lives elsewhere.

Like maternal health and newborn health requiring specialized approaches for vulnerable populations, refugee and migrant health demands understanding unique circumstances and needs.

Health Challenges During Migration

The migration journey itself creates significant health risks. Dangerous travel routes including desert crossings causing dehydration and heat exposure, sea crossings on overcrowded, unseaworthy boats risking drowning, walking long distances causing injuries and exhaustion, and traveling in crowded, poorly ventilated vehicles spreading infectious diseases all threaten health. Many migrants face violence during journeys including robbery, assault, sexual violence (particularly affecting women and children), trafficking and exploitation, and violence from smugglers or border enforcement.

Environmental exposures harm health through extreme temperatures without adequate shelter or clothing, inadequate food and water causing malnutrition and dehydration, and exposure to disease vectors like mosquitoes in areas with malaria or other diseases. Interrupted healthcare causes medication disruptions for people with chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, or HIV losing access to essential medications, missed vaccinations leaving children vulnerable to preventable diseases, and lack of prenatal care for pregnant women risking complications.

Mental health impacts include trauma from violence, loss of family members, and witnessing atrocities, chronic stress from ongoing uncertainty and danger, grief and loss of homes, communities, and familiar lives, and fear about future prospects and family safety. These psychological impacts can manifest as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health conditions requiring treatment often unavailable during migration.

Health Risks in Camps and Settlements

Refugee camps and settlements, while providing temporary safety, often create new health challenges. Overcrowding with thousands living in cramped conditions facilitates infectious disease transmission including respiratory infections like pneumonia and tuberculosis spreading rapidly in crowded shelters, diarrheal diseases from inadequate sanitation, and vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and pertussis causing outbreaks in undervaccinated populations.

Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) creates disease risks through contaminated water sources causing cholera, typhoid, and diarrheal diseases, insufficient sanitation facilities spreading fecal-oral diseases, and limited hygiene supplies preventing proper handwashing and menstrual hygiene. Food insecurity and malnutrition result from insufficient food rations causing undernutrition, monotonous diets lacking essential nutrients causing micronutrient deficiencies, and distribution challenges preventing fair access.

Limited healthcare services mean overburdened health facilities cannot meet population needs, insufficient health workers to provide adequate care, medication shortages particularly for chronic diseases, and minimal specialized services like mental health care, chronic disease management, or surgical capacity. Inadequate shelter through tents or temporary structures providing insufficient protection from weather, lack of heating in cold climates, poor ventilation facilitating disease transmission, and fire risks from cooking and heating in crowded conditions all compromise health.

Violence and safety concerns include gender-based violence affecting women and girls, child protection issues including family separation and exploitation, and insecurity within camps from conflicts or criminal activity. Like challenges in occupational health, refugee camp health risks require systematic environmental improvements.

Barriers to Healthcare Access

Even when healthcare services exist in host countries, refugees and migrants face multiple access barriers. Legal and administrative obstacles include unclear legal status affecting healthcare entitlements, documentation requirements that refugees/migrants cannot meet, and administrative complexity navigating unfamiliar health systems. Financial barriers involve lack of health insurance or ineligibility for public coverage, inability to afford out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and poverty limiting ability to pay for medicines or transportation to facilities.

Language and cultural barriers mean inability to communicate with healthcare providers, unfamiliarity with host country health systems and how to access care, cultural differences in understanding illness and treatment, and mistrust of authorities stemming from past persecution or negative experiences. Geographic barriers include living in remote areas far from health facilities, lack of transportation to reach healthcare services, and settlement in areas with inadequate health infrastructure.

Discrimination and xenophobia create hostile environments through stigma and discrimination against refugees/migrants in healthcare settings, fear of deportation preventing care-seeking, and racism affecting quality of care received. Knowledge gaps result from limited information about available health services, unawareness of rights to healthcare, and lack of health education in languages refugees/migrants understand.

Like primary health care access gaps generally, refugee and migrant healthcare barriers require systematic solutions addressing multiple levels.

Health Interventions and Solutions

Addressing refugee and migrant health requires comprehensive approaches. Emergency health services in camps and settlements should provide basic healthcare through primary care facilities, emergency treatment, and mobile clinics reaching remote populations. Essential interventions include immunization campaigns preventing outbreaks, nutritional support addressing malnutrition, maternal and child health services, and infectious disease surveillance and control.

WASH improvements ensure safe water supply, adequate sanitation facilities, hygiene promotion and supplies, and environmental sanitation reducing disease transmission. Mental health and psychosocial support through counseling services, psychological first aid training for healthcare workers and community members, support groups for trauma survivors, and culturally appropriate mental health interventions address psychological needs.

Healthcare access in host countries requires inclusive health policies ensuring refugees/migrants can access essential healthcare, affordable or subsidized healthcare reducing financial barriers, language services through interpreters and translated materials, and culturally competent care respecting diverse backgrounds. Health system strengthening involves increasing capacity to serve refugee/migrant populations, training healthcare workers in refugee health and cultural competency, integrating refugee/migrant health into national health systems, and ensuring continuity of care for chronic diseases.

Community engagement empowers refugee/migrant communities through participatory approaches in health program design, community health workers from refugee/migrant communities providing culturally appropriate care, health education in relevant languages addressing specific needs, and addressing social determinants of health including housing, education, and employment. Like One Health requiring cross-sectoral collaboration, refugee health demands coordinated humanitarian and development responses.

Amina’s Progress

Five years after arriving in Greece, Amina’s family resettled in Germany through a refugee resettlement program. Access to comprehensive healthcare transformed their lives. Her daughter’s chronic diarrhea was properly diagnosed and treated. Her son received asthma medications and an inhaler, controlling his symptoms. Amina received mental health counseling and treatment for depression and PTSD. The family enrolled in German language classes and health education programs teaching them to navigate the healthcare system.

“Having access to healthcare made us feel human again,” Amina reflects. “In the camp, we were just surviving day to day, dealing with illness after illness without proper treatment. Here, we can see doctors when we’re sick, get medications we need, and address our mental health. My children can grow up healthy. This should be available to all refugees—healthcare is a human right, not a privilege.”

Dr. Hassan, who provides healthcare to refugee populations, emphasizes: “Refugees and migrants face extraordinary health challenges from dangerous journeys, trauma, displacement, crowded camps, and barriers accessing care. Yet with appropriate support, they’re resilient populations who recover, contribute to host societies, and thrive. Ensuring refugee and migrant health requires recognizing healthcare as a human right, providing emergency health services in camps and during transit, including refugees and migrants in national health systems, addressing social determinants like housing and employment, combating discrimination and xenophobia, supporting mental health and psychosocial needs, and engaging communities in health programs. Protecting refugee and migrant health isn’t just humanitarian obligation—it benefits public health and social cohesion in host communities. When we invest in refugee and migrant health, we build healthier, more inclusive societies benefiting everyone.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What health challenges do refugees and migrants face?

Refugees and migrants face multiple health challenges: (1) Journey-related risks—dangerous routes causing injuries, violence including assault and trafficking, environmental exposures (extreme temperatures, inadequate food/water), interrupted healthcare for chronic diseases; (2) Camp/settlement conditions—overcrowding spreading infectious diseases, inadequate water/sanitation causing diarrheal diseases, food insecurity and malnutrition, limited healthcare services, inadequate shelter; (3) Mental health—trauma from violence and loss, chronic stress from uncertainty, PTSD, depression, anxiety; (4) Infectious diseases—respiratory infections, tuberculosis, vaccine-preventable diseases from interrupted immunization, diarrheal diseases; (5) Chronic disease management disruptions for diabetes, hypertension, HIV; (6) Maternal/child health vulnerabilities—lack of prenatal care, child malnutrition, interrupted vaccinations. While refugees/migrants aren’t inherently less healthy than host populations, migration circumstances create vulnerabilities requiring specific interventions.

Q2: Do refugees and migrants bring diseases to host countries?

This is a common misconception. Evidence shows refugees and migrants don’t pose greater infectious disease risks to host populations than local residents. Most infectious disease transmission occurs within communities, not from refugees/migrants introducing new diseases. Refugees/migrants are screened for communicable diseases during resettlement. Health challenges refugees face primarily affect them, not host populations. When outbreaks occur in camps (measles, cholera), they’re contained through vaccination and treatment. Some refugees/migrants may have diseases like tuberculosis or hepatitis from high-prevalence origin countries, but these don’t spread easily and are managed through screening and treatment. Public health benefits from ensuring refugee/migrant health through preventing disease spread in camps, providing vaccination protecting whole communities, and addressing conditions before they worsen. Discrimination based on unfounded disease transmission fears harms individuals and public health.

Q3: What barriers prevent refugees and migrants from accessing healthcare?

Multiple barriers limit healthcare access: (1) Legal/administrative—unclear legal status affecting entitlements, documentation requirements refugees/migrants can’t meet, complexity navigating unfamiliar systems; (2) Financial—lack of insurance or public coverage eligibility, inability to afford out-of-pocket costs, poverty limiting access; (3) Language/cultural—inability to communicate with providers, unfamiliarity with health systems, cultural differences in understanding illness, mistrust of authorities; (4) Geographic—living far from facilities, lack of transportation, settlement in areas with inadequate infrastructure; (5) Discrimination—stigma in healthcare settings, fear of deportation, racism affecting care quality; (6) Knowledge gaps—limited information about available services, unawareness of healthcare rights, lack of health education in appropriate languages. Addressing these requires inclusive policies, affordable care, language services, culturally competent providers, and community engagement.

Q4: How can healthcare systems better serve refugee and migrant populations?

Healthcare systems can improve refugee/migrant health through: (1) Inclusive policies ensuring refugees/migrants can access essential healthcare regardless of legal status; (2) Affordable care through subsidized services, insurance coverage, or eliminating out-of-pocket costs for essential services; (3) Language services providing professional interpreters and translated health materials; (4) Culturally competent care training providers in refugee health issues, cultural sensitivity, and trauma-informed approaches; (5) System navigation support helping refugees/migrants understand and access healthcare; (6) Integration into national health systems rather than parallel services; (7) Chronic disease management ensuring continuity of care for ongoing conditions; (8) Mental health services addressing trauma, depression, anxiety with culturally appropriate approaches; (9) Community health workers from refugee/migrant communities bridging cultural/linguistic gaps; (10) Addressing social determinants including housing, education, employment affecting health. Like ensuring quality of caregenerally, serving refugees/migrants requires systematic approaches.

Q5: What can be done to improve health in refugee camps?

Improving refugee camp health requires: (1) WASH improvements—safe water supply, adequate sanitation facilities, hygiene promotion and supplies, waste management; (2) Adequate healthcare—sufficient health facilities and staff, essential medicines including chronic disease medications, emergency treatment capacity, referral systems for complex cases; (3) Vaccination programs preventing outbreaks of measles, polio, other vaccine-preventable diseases; (4) Nutrition support—adequate food rations with nutritional diversity, supplementary feeding for malnourished children, micronutrient supplementation; (5) Mental health services—counseling, psychological support, trauma-informed care, community-based psychosocial programs; (6) Reduced overcrowding—adequate space per person, proper shelter with weather protection, safe cooking facilities; (7) Safety and protection—preventing gender-based violence, child protection, security within camps; (8) Health education—disease prevention, hygiene practices, nutrition, available services; (9) Community participation—engaging refugees in health program design and implementation. Well-managed camps significantly reduce health risks, though permanent solutions through resettlement or return remain goals.

Focus Key Phrase: Refugee migrant health challenges healthcare access displacement camps

Meta Description: 100 million displaced people worldwide face unique health challenges—learn about refugee and migrant health risks from dangerous journeys, camp conditions, healthcare barriers, mental health trauma, and solutions for inclusive care.

References

  1. World Health Organization. (2024). Refugee and migrant health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/refugee-and-migrant-health
  2. World Health Organization. (2024). Refugee and migrant health – Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/refugee-and-migrant-health
  3. UNHCR. (2024). Global Trends: Forced Displacement. Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends
  4. Observer Voice. Maternal Health: Protecting Mothers and Saving Lives. Retrieved from https://observervoice.com/maternal-health-protecting-mothers-saving-lives/
  5. Observer Voice. Newborn Health: Protecting Babies in Their First 28 Days. Retrieved from https://observervoice.com/newborn-health-protecting-babies-first-28-days/
  6. Observer Voice. Malaria: Prevention and Treatment. Retrieved from https://observervoice.com/malaria-prevention-treatment/

 

India: Mobility hampers HIV treatment follow-up among migrant labourers in Kerala

HIV cases in Perumbavoor guest workers

Kochi: After a rise in drug-related issues sparked tensions between locals and migrant labourers in Perumbavoor, there is now concern about health department’s difficulty in tracking guest workers, who tested positive for HIV in the last few months, and provide them with treatment. Wrong mobile numbers and addresses and frequent movement within the state due to the nature of work pose hurdles in tracking them.

Health department decided to conduct a field visit to Perumbavoor and Kerala State Aids Control Society (KSACS) will convene a meeting with govt departments such as police, excise, labour and local bodies to chalk out a plan to address the issue.

Data with health department shows that about 26% of those who tested HIV-positive in Perumbavoor area in the past few months were guest workers. The random testing was conducted through Perumbavoor taluk hospital.

Although the department is reluctant to share the total number of people tested and how many turned positive, officials said their real concern was migrant labour. The percentage may not appear alarming, as migrant labour testing HIV-positive is only 1/4th the total number of people who tested positive in Perumbavoor. However, the real worry is different: the migrant population is floating, and health officials are concerned because they are unable to trace many HIV-positive guest workers. Hence, timely intervention has become difficult.

Health officials realised that in most cases, the addresses provided are fake, making it difficult to track them in their home state too. “We are compiling data regarding all HIV cases in the area, including the latest test results,” said a KSACS official.

“By the time we get detailed test results, we fear the infected guest worker would leave here. Attempts to trace them using the phone numbers or address given by them often reach a dead end. We learned that some of them even possess multiple Aadhaar cards,” he added.

Even if addresses are genuine, tracking them isn’t easy. “Their mobility makes it difficult to trace them. Due to the nature of their work, they move from one place to another within days. In some cases, they leave the state. In such cases, we have to seek the support of National Aids Control Organization (NACO),” said another KSACS official.

Although state govt instructed labour and home departments to prepare a registry of guest workers more than four years ago, the work remains incomplete. Labour department was supposed to issue digital ID cards through Athithi portal, but the process is still halfway. Local bodies and health departments are supposed to conduct inspections at the accommodation facilities of guest workers, but they rarely do it.

Health department plans to seek district administration’s support for coordination with various govt departments in the district. The plan is to assign specific targets for each department.

 

Netherlands: New study links migration and poverty to HIV risk

Immigration and poverty tied to heightened HIV risk in the Netherlands

There is a strong social gradient associated with HIV diagnoses in the Netherlands, Dr Vita Jongen from Stichting HIV Monitoring and colleagues report in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. People who are poorer or are first-generation immigrants are much more likely to be diagnosed with HIV, while intersections between poverty and migration further increase their vulnerability.

Background

The Netherlands has nearly reached the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets: 95% of people with HIV are diagnosed, 95% of those diagnosed are on treatment and 95% of those on treatment are virally suppressed. Additionally, access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has dramatically reduced HIV transmission, particularly among younger people.

While new HIV diagnoses dropped consistently throughout the 2010s, they’ve stabilised since 2020, at around approximately 500 a year. Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men make up around 60% of these new diagnoses, other men around 20%, women around 16% and trans people around 4%.

However, gaps remain – especially for groups such as women and cisgender straight men. Across Europe, there are gaps in coverage of HIV prevention and treatment for migrants. Migrants often lack in-depth knowledge of how to navigate the health system in a new country and may find that language barriers make access to HIV services a challenge.

At a time of decreasing HIV incidence across Europe, when some groups are disproportionately affected by new diagnoses, researchers are interested in the structural and social factors that may make certain people more vulnerable to acquiring HIV. Here, the focus isn’t on risk groups and sexual behaviours – as has been the focus for most of the epidemic – but instead on broader factors, such as poverty or immigration status, and how these cluster together and intersect to create unique and emerging HIV vulnerabilities.

The study

HIV care in the Netherlands is provided by 23 treatment centres who contribute data to the centralised Stichting HIV Monitoring. While the Netherlands has universal healthcare, this is based on mandatory private insurance contributions. HIV testing is free for specific populations, such as gay men and trans women. Documented migrants have access to the healthcare system, but undocumented migrants may have to pay out of pocket for health-related services. However, any care deemed medically necessary – such as HIV testing and care – should not be withheld, even for undocumented people.

Over 97% of all people living with HIV in the Netherlands also contribute their data to a research cohort, AIDS Therapy Evaluation in the Netherlands (ATHENA). This is one of the main data sources for the current study.

Additionally, researchers accessed data from Statistics Netherlands for two purposes. The first was to perform comparisons between age and sex-matched individuals in the general population and people diagnosed with HIV. The second was to match HIV diagnosis data with specific individuals represented in Statistics Netherlands data, to investigate potential associations between being diagnosed with HIV and education, income, immigration status and certain health behaviours, such as using mental healthcare services or antidepressant medication. This was done by matching an individual’s date of birth, the first four digits of the postal code of their last known residence and sex at birth. This allowed for linkage between ATHENA and Statistics Netherlands data. If exact matching was not possible, the data was not used for the results.

All people in the ATHENA cohort over 18 and newly diagnosed with HIV in the Netherlands between January 2012 and December 2023 were included. People who migrated to the Netherlands with known HIV were excluded, as were transgender people – due to small numbers and the possible risk of identification.

Intersecting factors create unique vulnerabilities to HIV

For the study period, 6055 men and 1020 women were newly diagnosed with HIV. Most people diagnosed with HIV were aged between 25 and 49 years old – 64% of all diagnoses for both men and women, with very few diagnoses among those aged 18 to 25. The 25-to-49-year-old group was overrepresented when compared to the general Dutch population, where they comprised 44% of all men and 49% of all women.

Of men diagnosed with HIV, most were neither first- or second-generation immigrants (59%), a large proportion had secondary education or higher (41%) and fell into the middle-to-low-income bracket (43%). However, when compared with the general population, there were many more immigrants among those diagnosed with HIV than generally (40% vs. 23%) and more men living below the poverty line among those diagnosed with HIV (23% vs. 12%). There were also sizable differences in those who used mental health care services and antidepressants among those diagnosed with HIV and the general population (7% vs. 5% and 8% vs. 5%, respectively).

Of women diagnosed with HIV, most were first-generation immigrants (55%), a large proportion had mainly primary and secondary education (44%) and their income fell below the poverty line (45%). Moreover, when compared with the general population, there were many more immigrants among those diagnosed with HIV than generally (64% vs. 25%) and there more women living below the poverty line among those diagnosed with HIV (45% vs. 14%). There was a notable difference in those who used antipsychotic medications among people diagnosed with HIV and the general population (5% vs. 2%).

When considering specific socio-economic categories and health behaviours, first-generation immigrant men were over twice as likely to be diagnosed with HIV than non-immigrants (adjusted Odds Ratio 2.21, 95% Confidence Interval 2.08-2.35). This pattern was much stronger for first-generation immigrant women, who were over four times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than non-immigrant women (aOR 4.48, 95% CI 3.87-5.19). Statistically significant increases in HIV diagnoses still held true for second-generation immigrants but were not as pronounced, as these people were born in the Netherlands and likely have better healthcare knowledge and access.

The most notable difference for both women and men related to income: women living below the poverty line were over four times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than high-income women (aOR 4.71, 95% CI 3.8-5.83), while women in the middle to low-income bracket were nearly two and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than high income women (aOR 2.49, 95% CI 2.05-3.01). For men, this difference was not as dramatic – men living below the poverty line were nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with HIV than high-income men (aOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.62-1.89). The poverty line is defined as household income less than 120% of the social minimum, or income needed to survive.

Interestingly, men who used antidepressants were more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than those who did not; for women, antipsychotic medications were more likely to be associated with an HIV diagnosis.

When considering combined demographic, socio-economic and health behaviour factors, certain profiles were more likely to have a predicted risk of being diagnosed with HIV than others. A first-generation immigrant man aged 25 to 49, with income below the poverty line and using antidepressants, would have a 12-fold higher risk of being diagnosed with HIV than a man older than 50, with no immigration history and a high income. Similarly, a first-generation immigrant woman aged 25 to 49, with income below the poverty line, receiving social welfare, and using antipsychotic medications, would have a much higher predicted risk of being diagnosed with HIV than women with differing profiles.

Conclusion

“A disproportionally higher burden of new HIV diagnoses was observed for individuals with not only a migration background, but also economic and mental health vulnerabilities,” the authors conclude. “Barriers to HIV prevention and testing need to be reduced if we are to achieve no new HIV infections and end the HIV epidemic.”

This research is a clear indication of the social gradient: those who are poorer and experience the worst consequences of migration, such as first-generation immigrants, are much more likely to see worse health outcomes, such as being diagnosed with HIV. These negative health consequences ease off for low-to-middle income people and second-generation immigrants but are still visible – even in settings with access to HIV testing and prevention.

Intersections between factors such as poverty and migration heighten HIV vulnerability and need to be adequately and actively acknowledged by any public health policies aimed at eliminating new cases of HIV.

References

Jongen VW et al. Risk of new HIV diagnosis by intersecting migration, socioeconomic, and mental health vulnerabilities in the Netherlands: a nationwide analysis of the ATHENA cohort and Statistics Netherlands registry data. The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, 60: 101508, 2026 (open access).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101508

Russia: Tougher health reporting rules for clinics and migrants advance in Russia

Translated with AI – Scroll down for article in Russian

Medical control is being tightened in Russia: migrants are waiting for tests, fines and a criminal charge for fake certificates

The State Duma Committee approved a bill that significantly tightens medical examinations for foreign citizens, writes the telegram channel Ostashko! Important.
According to the new rules, all foreigners arriving in Russia for more than 90 days must be tested for HIV and drugs within 30 days after entry, and then annually.

Previously, the terms of examinations for different categories of visitors could vary and reach 90 days. Now the violation of these requirements threatens with a fine of 25 to 50 thousand rubles, and in case of non-repayment of the amount – its doubling and mandatory expulsion by court decision.

Separately, the law introduces liability for forged medical certificates. Violators may face criminal punishment of up to 4 years in prison.

The rules for medical organizations are also changing. Now clinics are obliged to inform the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Rospotrebnadzor about the identified dangerous diseases among foreigners. Violation of the examination procedure may result in a fine of up to 1 million rubles or suspension of activities for up to 90 days. If violations are recorded in several migrants, fines will be charged for each.

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В России ужесточают медконтроль: мигрантов ждут тесты, штрафы и уголовка за поддельные справки

Комитет Госдумы одобрил законопроект, который существенно ужесточает медицинские проверки для иностранных граждан, пишет телеграм-канал Осташко! Важное.
Согласно новым правилам, все иностранцы, прибывающие в Россию на срок более 90 дней, должны в течение 30 дней после въезда пройти тестирование на ВИЧ и наркотики, а затем — ежегодно.

Ранее сроки прохождения обследований у разных категорий приезжих могли различаться и достигать 90 дней. Теперь нарушение этих требований грозит штрафом от 25 до 50 тысяч рублей, а при непогашении суммы — её удвоением и обязательным выдворением по решению суда.

Отдельно закон вводит ответственность за поддельные медицинские справки. Нарушителям может грозить уголовное наказание до 4 лет лишения свободы.

Также изменяются правила для медицинских организаций. Теперь клиники обязаны информировать МВД и Роспотребнадзор о выявленных опасных заболеваниях у иностранцев. Нарушение порядка освидетельствования может обернуться штрафом до 1 миллиона рублей или приостановкой деятельности на срок до 90 суток. Если нарушения зафиксированы у нескольких мигрантов, штрафы будут начисляться за каждого.

Spain: Regularisation of migrants expected to improve HIV diagnosis and prevention

AI translation – Scroll down for article in Spanish

Cesida emphasizes that the extraordinary regularization of migrants will improve their real access to public health

The State Coordinator of HIV and AIDS (Cesida) has applauded the implementation of the procedures for an extraordinary administrative regularization that will affect more than half a million migrants living in Spain. The organization believes that this measure will allow real access to the health system and will help leave behind a situation of structural exclusion with a direct impact on their health and quality of life.

Cesida highlights the relevance of this initiative in the context of the response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Ordinary access to health makes it possible to advance in the diagnosis, treatment and implementation of combined prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

The entity has insisted that a health system that aspires to be truly universal must prioritize care for people in the most vulnerable situations, including those at high risk of acquiring HIV.

In this line, Cesida stressed that administrative exclusion not only implies a violation of rights, but also weakens public health policies and the capacity for collective response to the epidemic.

The Venezuelan migrant with HIV and member of the Cesida executive Jesús Cisneros has valued the positive impact of regularization for “all these people who have found themselves for years working in a submerged economy and living in a rather precarious way.”

Likewise, he has asked to continue advancing rules of this type and speed up administrative procedures, since, as he has pointed out, these people come to Spain on many occasions “because their life depends on it, they depend on HIV medication to continue living.”

The Cesida entities that work with the migrant population have already been activated to support the management of this regularization, providing information, social support and legal advice to people who may benefit from the process.

The State Coordinator of HIV and AIDS has also demanded to pay attention to the administrative deadlines and requirements that continue to condition access to health care. Specifically, he pointed out that the times linked to registration, whose resolution period can be extended up to three months, continue to be an element that can significantly delay effective access to health.

Cesida subraya que la regularización extraordinaria de migrantes mejorará su acceso real a la sanidad pública

La Coordinadora Estatal de VIH y sida (Cesida) ha aplaudido la puesta en marcha de los trámites para una regularización administrativa extraordinaria que afectará a más de medio millón de personas migrantes residentes en España. La organización considera que esta medida permitirá un acceso real al sistema sanitario y ayudará a dejar atrás una situación de exclusión estructural con impacto directo en su salud y en su calidad de vida.

Desde Cesida se remarca la relevancia de esta iniciativa en el marco de la respuesta frente al virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). El acceso ordinario a la sanidad posibilita avanzar en el diagnóstico, el tratamiento y la implementación de estrategias de prevención combinada, entre ellas la profilaxis preexposición (PrEP) y la profilaxis posexposición (PEP).

La entidad ha insistido en que un sistema sanitario que aspire a ser verdaderamente universal debe priorizar la atención a las personas en situación de mayor vulnerabilidad, incluidas aquellas con un riesgo elevado de adquirir el VIH.

En esta línea, Cesida ha recalcado que la exclusión administrativa no solo implica una vulneración de derechos, sino que también debilita las políticas de salud pública y la capacidad de respuesta colectiva ante la epidemia.

El migrante venezolano con VIH y miembro de la ejecutiva de Cesida Jesús Cisneros ha puesto en valor el impacto positivo de la regularización para “todas estas personas que se han encontrado durante años trabajando en una economía sumergida y viviendo de una manera bastante precaria”.

Asimismo, ha pedido seguir avanzando en normas de este tipo y acelerar los procedimientos administrativos, ya que, tal y como ha señalado, estas personas llegan a España en muchas ocasiones “porque su vida depende de ello, dependen de la medicación del VIH para seguir viviendo”.

Las entidades de Cesida que trabajan con población migrante ya se han activado para apoyar la gestión de esta regularización, proporcionando información, acompañamiento social y asesoramiento jurídico a las personas que puedan verse beneficiadas por el proceso.

La Coordinadora Estatal de VIH y sida ha reclamado además prestar atención a los plazos y requisitos administrativos que continúan condicionando el acceso a la atención sanitaria. En concreto, ha señalado que los tiempos vinculados al empadronamiento, cuyo plazo de resolución puede alargarse hasta tres meses, siguen siendo un elemento que puede demorar de forma notable el acceso efectivo a la salud.

Russia: List of diseases for which labour migrants are tested expand to include hepatitis B and C

Migrants arriving in Russia will be examined for hepatitis B, C and D in 2026.

The Ministry of Health has already prepared amendments to the order on medical examination of foreigners, now its draft is under approval, said Natalia Pakskina, Deputy Director of the Department of Emergency Medical Care Organization and Health Risk Management of the Ministry of Health of Russia.

“We are, by and large, on the finish line. We have included just a medical examination of foreigners for hepatitis B and C, including with a delta agent (hepatitis D). Therefore, we will examine foreigners from the same year,”
– Pakskina reported.

Earlier, a bill was submitted to the State Duma, which involves migrants to undergo medical examinations within 30 days from the date of entry into Russia. Now this period is 90 days.
—————————————————————————————–

Прибывающих в Россию мигрантов в 2026 году начнут обследовать на гепатиты B, C и D.

Минздрав уже подготовил изменения в приказ о медицинском освидетельствовании иностранцев, сейчас его проект на согласовании, рассказала замдиректора департамента организации экстренной медицинской помощи и управления рисками здоровью Минздрава России Наталья Пакскина.

«Мы, по большому счету, на финишной прямой. Мы включили как раз медицинское обследование иностранцев на гепатиты В и С, в том числе с дельта-агентом (гепатит D). Поэтому обследовать иностранцев мы будем с этого же года»,
— сообщила Пакскина.
Ранее в Госдуму внесли законопроект, предполагающий прохождение мигрантами медосвидетельствования в течение 30 дней с момента въезда в Россию. Сейчас этот срок составляет 90 дней.
Источник: https://moika78.ru/news/2026-01-28/1254506-v-rossii-nachnut-proveryat-migrantov-na-gepatity-v-s-i-d

Russia: Migrants to undergo medical examination within 30 days of entry under proposed bill

A bill on combating illegal migration and protecting the health of citizens has been submitted to the State Duma. This was announced on her VKontakte page by Irina Yarovaya, Deputy Speaker of the lower house of parliament.

The bill proposes amendments to the law ‘On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation.’ Under current regulations, migrants must undergo a medical examination within 90 days of entering Russia. If the bill is passed, foreigners will undergo a medical examination within 30 days of entry. The authors of the initiative also propose to oblige those who have arrived in the country for more than 30 days to undergo a medical examination annually.

Foreigners will be tested for dangerous infectious diseases and HIV, as well as for drug use. Medical organisations will forward information about diseases among new arrivals to Rospotrebnadzor and the Ministry of Internal Affairs ‘for prompt deportation.’

Migrants who evade medical examinations may also be deported from Russia. The amendments also propose increasing fines for migrants who evade medical examinations by more than 12 times, to 25,000-50,000 roubles, with the possibility of deportation at the discretion of the court.

Earlier, State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin reported that administrative liability is expected to be introduced for foreign citizens who evade medical examinations.

In addition, according to the speaker of the lower house, it is expected to ‘establish increased criminal liability for the forgery of official documents certifying the absence of diseases that pose a danger to others, and their circulation.’

At the end of 2024, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree requiring illegal migrants in Russia to regularise their status or leave the country by 30 April 2025.

Among the requirements for illegal migrants who want to remain in Russia were the submission of biometric data and medical examinations for drugs, infectious diseases and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

In addition, migrants are required to pass a test on their knowledge of the Russian language, history and laws, as well as to pay off any outstanding debts. The decree states that those who have signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence for military service will not be deported. Previous decisions on deportation, readmission, refusal of entry into Russia, undesirability of stay and reduction of the period of temporary stay in the country will not be enforced in their regard. This provision does not apply to foreigners who pose a threat to Russia’s national security.

In February last year, a public register of illegal migrants was launched in Russia. In addition, a new procedure for their expulsion from the country came into force.

Мигрантам предложили сократить срок прохождения медобследования

Законопроект о противодействии нелегальной миграции и защите здоровья граждан внесен в Государственную думу. Об этом сообщила на своей странице во «ВКонтакте» вице-спикер нижней палаты парламента Ирина Яровая.

Проектом предлагается внести поправки в закон «О правовом положении иностранных граждан в Российской Федерации». По действующим нормам, после въезда в Россию мигранты должны пройти медобследование в течение 90 дней. Если документ примут, иностранцы будут проходить медицинское освидетельствование в течение 30 дней с момента въезда. Авторы инициативы предлагают также обязать тех, кто приехал в страну более чем на 30 дней, проходить медосвидетельствование ежегодно.

Иностранцев будут проверять на наличие опасных инфекционных заболеваний и ВИЧ, а также на употребление наркотических веществ. Медицинские организации станут передавать информацию о болезнях у приезжих в Роспотребнадзор и МВД «для оперативной высылки».

За уклонение от медобследования мигранта могут также выслать из России. Поправками в том числе предлагаетсяповысить штрафы за уклонение мигрантов от медосвидетельствования более чем в 12 раз, до 25–50 тыс. руб., с возможностью выдворения на усмотрение суда.

Ранее председатель Госдумы Вячеслав Володин сообщал, что предполагается ввести административную ответственность за уклонение иностранных граждан от медосвидетельствования.

Кроме того, по словам спикера нижней палаты, предполагается «установить повышенную уголовную ответственность за подделку официальных документов об отсутствии заболеваний, представляющих опасность для окружающих, и их оборот».

В конце 2024 года президент Владимир Путин подписал указ, по которому находящиеся в России нелегальные мигранты обязаны урегулировать свой статус или покинуть территорию страны до 30 апреля 2025-го.

Среди требований к тем нелегальным мигрантам, кто хочет остаться на территории России, были указаны сдача биометрических данных и прохождение медицинского освидетельствования на наркотики, наличие инфекционных заболеваний и вируса иммунодефицита человека (ВИЧ).

Мигранты помимо этого обязаны сдать тест на знание русского языка, истории и законов России, а также погасить имеющиеся задолженности. В указе говорится, что тех, кто заключил контракт с Минобороны на прохождение военной службы, не будут депортировать. В отношении них не будут исполнены принятые ранее решения о депортации, реадмиссии, неразрешении въезда в Россию, нежелательности пребывания и сокращении сроков временного пребывания в стране. Это положение не применяется к иностранцам, которые создают угрозу для национальной безопасности России.

В феврале прошлого года в России заработал публичный реестр нелегальных мигрантов. Кроме того, вступил в силу новый порядок их высылки из страны.

No-cost legal clinics available for NYC immigrants

If you are an immigrant in NYC, free legal clinics are available to help you. At these clinics, you can speak with a lawyer or a supervised law student at no cost. Many clinics help people regardless of immigration status and offer services in multiple languages. Clinics can help with immigration cases, housing issues, work problems, family matters, and other legal questions.

Pro-bono lawyers may have a full case load or have specific requirements for the clients they are able to see at this time. As an alternative, you can consider visiting a legal clinic which may have more opportunities advise you on your legal issue.

Most of these clinics will require an appointment, so you will need to email or call in advance.

If you are not sure where to begin, you can call the NYC Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The hotline is run by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairsand can help you find the right legal clinic for your situation.

Free, confidential help is available, and asking for help will not affect your immigration status.

Here are free legal clinics in New York City where you can get free legal advice, access to representation, or referrals.

Asian American Bar Association of New York

Partnering with local community organizations, the Asian American Bar Association of New York runs free monthly legal clinics in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Flushing. People can check the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee (PBCS) calendar for details about each scheduled clinic. Interpreters are available.

  • Queens pro bono clinic: First Wednesday of the month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at AAFE One Flushing Community Center (133-29 41st Avenue, 2nd Floor, Flushing)
  • Manhattan pro bono clinic: Third Wednesday of the month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at AAFE Community Center (111 Norfolk Street, Manhattan)
  • Brooklyn pro bono clinic: Held bi-monthly on the second Saturday of the month from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at CPC Brooklyn Community Services (4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn)

City Council Member Susan Zhuang’s office

Susan Zhuang’s office offers free legal clinics every Friday at 6514 20th Avenue in Brooklyn. People can call (718) 307-7151 or email District43@council.nyc.gov to make an appointment.

Legal Services NYC

Legal Services NYC runs clinics and study groups to help low-income clients. It has offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. People can call the citywide intake line at (917) 661-4500, Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., to get scheduled for a local clinic.

LGBT Bar NY

LGBT Bar NY offers free drop-in legal clinics for the LGBTQ community. The clinic is held on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. at 208 West 13th Street in Manhattan. No appointment is needed, but people should arrive before 5:45 p.m. to make sure they can be helped.

New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)

NYLAG runs free legal counseling, including help with immigration issues. It is based in Lower Manhattan and also offers mobile clinics across New York City. People can check their mobile legal help calendar for regular clinic days and locations.

Urban Justice Center

The Urban Justice Center offers free legal clinics at City Council Amanda Farías’s district office (778 Castle Avenue, Bronx). These are held on the second and last Monday of every month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You must call (718) 792-1140 to make an appointment.

Need family law help? You can make an appointment at the family law clinic, which is held every Wednesday at the Urban Justice Center (40 Rector Street, 9th Floor, Manhattan) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You must call (833) 321-4387 to make an appointment.

If you can’t make it to the Manhattan office, you can also request a virtual appointment for family lawyers. Make an appointment by emailing cprisco@council.nyc.gov.

In addition, the Urban Justice Center offers even more clinics that cover public benefits, homeless issues, and landlord-tenant problems across New York City. Learn more about those clinics here. 

Taiwan: CDC planning to expand eligibility for publicly funded HIV treatment for foreign nationals

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is planning to expand eligibility for publicly funded HIV treatment for foreign nationals next year, although it has not released many details on how the expansion would work.

CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) told a press event on Monday last week that subsidy regulations are being revised and eligibility for publicly funded treatment for foreign residents would be expanded.

Lo at the time said the expansion would initially prioritize foreign nationals holding permanent residency and those under 18, but he offered no other details.

When the CDC was asked later in the week about how many more foreign nationals would become eligible for publicly funded treatment, it said it was still assessing the potential impact and “has no clear figure yet.”

Under its existing support program, the CDC covers costs for an HIV patient’s first two years on medication, after which expenses are covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI) system.

As of late last month, 36,494 Taiwanese and 615 foreign nationals in Taiwan were living with HIV, the CDC said in a written response on Friday.

Of the 615 foreign nationals, 343 were already covered under NHI, while the others have been on medication for less than two years and were not yet eligible for NHI coverage, although some have received financial help in other ways.

Patients are currently treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy, commonly known as “cocktail therapy” combining at least two to three antiretroviral drugs, with monthly medication costs capped at under NT$13,200.

At the news conference on Monday last week, Lo said the enrollment quota for the publicly funded HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program would also be increased next year, to 9,500 people, from 8,000 this year.

The program, designed to prevent the incidence of HIV, is open to Taiwanese and foreign spouses of Taiwanese who meet the criteria and are assessed by physicians, the CDC said.

Lo said Taiwan would record about 850 new HIV cases this year, the lowest level since 2003 and down about 11 to 12 percent from last year, in part because of the PrEP program.