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SIXTH
INTERNATIONAL METROPOLIS CONFERENCE WORKSHOP
42: Shifting
Paradigms: From Quarantine to Migration Health Wednesday, November 28, 2001
14:00 - 15:30
ORGANIZERS Dr. Douglas MacPherson
Director
Quarantine, Travel and Migration Health
Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response
Population and Public Health Branch
Health Canada
Postal Locator 0900B, Tunney=s Pasture
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9 Canada
Tel: (613) 954-3236
Fax: (613) 952-8286
E-mail: doug.macpherson@hc-sc.gc.ca Dr. Brian Gushulak
Director
Migration Health Services
CIC
Geneva, Switzerland
E-mail address:brian.gushulak@8303rnh.cina.cic.x400.gc.ca
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
Historically, the movement
of migrants has been restricted by quarantine laws to prevent the importation
of deadly, contagious diseases such as cholera, typhus, Yellow Fever and
tuberculosis. These laws have become largely ineffective due to rapid
international travel, the shear volume of human populations on the move,
and the emergence of new diseases such as Ebola. Increasingly, international
health practitioners and policy makers are realizing that the old quarantine
paradigm is no longer working. It does not adequately protect welcoming
nations or improve the health of migrants. The goal of this workshop will
be to explore the policy changes that are needed to respond to a new paradigm
in migration health which is based on a realistic assessment of migrants=
risk to the welcoming population, and which strives to improve the health
of migrating persons. Policy relevance: new population
and public health evidence supports health promotion and disease prevention
in migrant populations as the preferred public health strategy, while
still maintaining a role for migrant health screening and quarantine.
The challenge to policy makers will be to respond to a new framework of
population mobility and globalization of health issues. Policy makers, mobile population
heath researchers and members of non-governmental organizations will be
asked to present at the workshop, actively solicited to attend the workshop,
and invited to make representations to the workshop coordinators. International Comparison: Canada
has an active policy of receiving immigrants and refugees, and 17% of
the Canadian population was born elsewhere. The Canadian situation will
be used as an example, in comparison to other destinations of immigrants
and asylum seekers, of the international movement of migrants, using case
scenarios, population health studies, and community based health statistics. Mechanisms to ensure discussion
of best practices/policies: short presentations (10-15 min x 4) will be
used from each representative perspective + panel and audience Q/A x 30-50
min. A summary paper will be prepared and submitted to the Metropolis
conference organization. DURATION: 1.5 hours
- presented on two occasions. PARTICIPANTS Researchers: Dr. D. W. MacPherson,
Quarantine, Travel and Migration Health, Health Canada and McMaster University,
Canada.
Policy makers: Dr. Mark Wheeler, Health Canada; Dr. Neil Heywood, Citizen
and Immigration Canada.
Non-governmental representative: Dr. Brian Gushulak, Migration Health
Services, International Organization for Migration, Geneva, Switzerland.
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