The Directors-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Geneva today to strengthen collaboration between the two organizations to "better meet the health needs of migrants and other displaced persons".

Taking advantage of the two organizations' core competencies, WHO and the IOM will together aim to protect and improve the health status of the world's migrants. Specific efforts will be made to reduce the mortality, morbidity and disability among migrants; to provide them with better health services; and to campaign for effective international health policies and infrastructures for migrants.

The MOU and its new working arrangements enter into force today with its signature by the two Directors-General. In an initial period, areas of work are likely to focus on technical cooperation programmes addressing the needs of migrants, specific health programmes for migrants and migrant communities, addressing health needs in post-conflict societies, and promoting harmonization of international legislation and regulations concerning the control of the international spread of infectious diseases.

"Although WHO and IOM have worked together in common areas of interest for decades, this MOU marks a big step forward in formalising and deepening our cooperation. In the world today there are many, many millions of people in post-conflict situations and in, perhaps, tenuous situations in countries to which they have migrated for economic or political reasons, who do not have adequate access to health care and are at great risk from disease, reproductive, mental and other health problems. Together we can do so much more for them and I look forward to our cooperation," said Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of WHO.

"Many of IOM's activities involve direct interaction with migrants and mobile populations in a variety of environments from regular immigration to post-conflict scenarios. This contact provides both insight into and opportunities to improve the health of these individuals. As issues of population mobility and health become more prominent, we have seen an increasing interest in the science and practice of migration health. The sharing of experience and perspectives in this area between IOM and WHO is an activity that has gone on for many years. We hope that the document we have formalized today can further facilitate collaboration in the dynamic and important interface between health and migration," added Mr Brunson McKinley, Director-General of the IOM.