title: Healthy migration: a public health and development imperative for south(ern) Africa.
abstract: South Africa (SA), like the rest of the Southern African Development Community, has a high prevalence of communicable diseases, an increasing non-communicable disease burden, and diverse internal and cross-border population movements. Healthy migration is good for development, but current prevention, testing and treatment responses within public health systems - particularly for chronic conditions - fail to engage with migration. Understanding of migration is poor within sectors responsible for developing appropriate responses; negative, unsupported assumptions relating to the prevalence of cross-border migration, the spread of disease, and the burden on receiving health systems prevail. In SA, public health responses fail to address internal and cross-border mobilities, and non-nationals face challenges in accessing healthcare. Of particular concern is the lack of nationally and regionally co-ordinated strategies to ensure treatment continuity for chronic conditions. Co-ordinated, evidence-informed responses to migration, mobility and health are urgently needed. These will have developmental and public health benefits for all.
authors.affiliation: African Centre for Migration & Society, School of Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. jovearey@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vearey
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods; D012040:Regional Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012924:Social Conditions; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology