Universal post-arrival screening for child refugees in Australia: isn't it time?
It is known that the refugee population in Australia is at risk of tuberculosis (TB) and children with TB infection can develop active disease with devastating consequence. Currently, in New South Wales (NSW) and possibly other Australian States and Territories, there are different and complex health-screening pathways for newly arrived refugees. This is compounded by various factors, such as social and language difficulties for refugees to access healthcare and limited pre-embarkation screening. In this Viewpoint article, we present a child refugee in Australia with TB and use this case to reason why a universal post-arrival health screening programme should be established.
Department of Paediatrics, Mt Druitt Hospital, Mt Druitt, New South Wales, Australia. patrick.patradoon-ho@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Patrick S
PS
Patradoon-Ho
Rosemary W
RW
Ambler
D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D011634:Public Health; D012036:Refugees; D013397:Sudan / Q000208:ethnology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*