Chile - The first meeting between Colombia and Chile to develop a bi-national agenda on health and migration to ensure adequate access and health coverage for migrants from both countries took place this week in Antofagasta, Chile.

The meeting was held as part of a cooperation agreement signed on July 9, 2015 between IOM and Chile’s Ministry of Health aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of the ministry in migration management in the field of public health.

This meeting followed recommendations in a study: "Characterization of migratory flows of migrants and the labor market between Colombia and Chile" prepared by the IOM missions in Chile and Colombia and financed by the IOM Development Fund and the IOM Missions Colombia and Peru.

Participants included representatives of the Foreign and Health Ministries of Chile and Colombia, regional and local health authorities, civil society and IOM.

Cristian Herrera Riquelme, Head of Strategic Development of Chile’s Health Ministry said: “Health is a right for migrant populations and we need to improve comprehensive access to health services."

The event concluded with a commitment to continue working in three areas: public health for prevention and promotion of diseases in Colombian migrants in Antofagasta; a focus on the diseases that most affect Colombian migrants; and training Chilean health professionals in the culture of Colombian migrants.

IOM will prepare a programme proposal for the first half of October, when the second binational meeting on health and migration between Chile and Colombia will take place.

For further information please contact: Marina Esponda at IOM Chile, Tel: +56-2 29 633710, Email mesponda@iom.int