admin
Mutsawashe Mashandure
Herald Correspondent
The European Union has provided US$1,2m to migration management and to inform preparedness plans in urban areas in Zimbabwe.
The funding from the EU will be provided through 15 000 migrant returnees and other mobile populations and will endeavour to boost primary health and care initiatives to respond to the unique needs of migrants, promote the provision of equitable, accessible, and appropriate health services to all over a period of 24 months.
The IMO activities at borders are expected to conduct data collection to identify and prioritise community surveillance, migration data, and a comprehensive picture of the demographics, needs, and vulnerabilities of migrants. This data will inform government and development partners on the actions required to detect, prevent and respond to public health threats that affect migrants in mainly urban areas and to ensure that migrants have access to basic health services.
IOM has over the last two years been working to strengthen capacities of front-line workers at four points of entry (PoEs) Beitbridge, Plumtree, Chirundu and Forbes, to respond adequately to crises and attend to migrant needs, including post-arrival assistance, health and protection assistance.
IOM will maintain protection assistance through counselling and referral services and will build on existing partnerships to provide the government with the necessary technical assistance to craft contingency plans and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) at PoEs and along the routes that migrants travel, to ensure a reinforced system of prevention, detection and response to epidemics in Zimbabwe. In addition, IOM will contribute to strengthening the capacity for effective epidemic preparedness and response to any future disease outbreaks in the country.
IOM Zimbabwe Chief of Mission Mario Lito Malanca emphasised the importance of coordination between national and local authorities as well as with humanitarian development partners in this project.
“It is important to continue to support member states in mapping and studying how migration affects development and vice versa at the community level to mainstream migration into community development through supporting the development of local migration profiles,” he said.
Online Reporter