13 May 2022, Uppsala University, Sweden
WHO’s newest collaborating centre, the Collaborating Centre on Migration and Health Data and Evidence, will be inaugurated at Uppsala University, Sweden on 13 May 2022.
WHO will work closely with the Centre to improve the availability of data and evidence on the health of refugees and migrants. This is the first collaborating center on Migration and Health Data and Evidence and the first WHO collaborating center focusing on migration and health in Sweden. Currently there are three designated WHO Collaborating Centers focusing on Migration and Health globally, all are located in the WHO European Region.
Dr Vytenis Andriukaitis, WHO Special Envoy for the WHO European Region, underlines the importance of collaborating centres for WHO in providing evidence-informed guidance. He explains that “a strong knowledge base and understanding of the social determinants of health is important for designing policies that make a difference for better health, including the health of refugees and migrants”. With the inauguration of this new Collaborating Centre, WHO’s work in the field will be strengthened.
Successful collaboration on health in immigration detention
WHO/Europe recently collaborated with Uppsala University in collecting and analysing data on the implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan for Refugee and Migrant Health in the WHO European Region, to be presented at the upcoming Regional Committee in September 2022. The collaboration also led to the development of 2 reports; the latest report, on the health challenges in immigration detention and on alternatives to detention, was published in early May.
Speaking about the successful collaboration, Professor Anders Hagfeldt, Vice-Chancellor of Uppsala University, said, “Refugee and migrant health is an important aspect of an inclusive public health approach and sustainable societies. Uppsala University is proud to have partnered with the WHO Regional Office for Europe to develop this important publication to address the health challenges among one of the most vulnerable groups of migrants.”
Following the latest collaboration, WHO/Europe and the new Collaborating Centre will jointly hold a training course on health in immigration detention and the use of alternatives to detention on 17–18 May 2022 at Uppsala University.