For World Tuberculosis Day, IOM recognized the critical role that migrants play in the fight against tuberculosis by helping other migrants, refugees and internally displaced people and their communities.
On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, the UN agency International Organisation for Migration (IOM) celebrated and highlighted the role that migrants play in fighting tuberculosis. It told stories of migrant leaders active in tuberculosis prevention.
One example is Asha, originally from Syria and now living in Jordan, who began to become involved when her father was diagnosed with TB three years ago. "Our friends and neighbors refused to leave us at that time. They were not afraid, even though my father was sick," she said.
Asha and Abdel's work in Jordan
IOM said TB is the leading cause of death worldwide from a single infectious agent. It said new TB infections affect about 1 percent of the world's population each year. The organization fostered Asha's interest in becoming part of the network of health workers in her community of Azraq, Jordan. Since the time her father was diagnosed, she has been working as a volunteer with IOM together with Abdel Karim, another Syrian refugee.
"Asha is volunteering to protect her community from TB by providing door to door awareness-raising on TB in Azraq camp," IOM said. "Abdel Karim was studying nursing in Homs, Syria, before the conflict began. He was unable to finish his studies there, but he is passionate about contributing to the wellbeing of the community in Azraq camp by raising awareness. Together with Asha, he distributes brochures with information detailing symptoms and treatment of TB, and offers residents a hotline to seek assistance for TB prevention," it said.
Migrants working to reach sustainable development goals
IOM said it "advocates for the inclusion of migrant populations as the fastest way to achieve the TB targets of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Plan to End TB 2016-2020".
"IOM's TB programmes are implemented among migrants, crisis-affected populations and their host communities around the world. These programmes include TB prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, health service availability and sensitization against stigma and discrimination," it said.
IOM Director General Ambassador William Lacy Swing said this year the organization is honoring "the migrant leaders for a TB-free world". "Migrants can play an important role working within camps, cities or rural areas, local communities and many other places dedicating their lives to work against TB," he said. "As IOM's campaign on this World TB Day shows, migrants serve as medical doctors, nurses and community health workers to provide treatment, information and support in their communities, and are vital to achieving a migrant-centered TB and health response."