Panama presents the Technical Standard for Mental Health Care for the Migrant and Refugee Population
Panama City. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Panama presented the Technical Standard for Mental Health Care for Migrant and Refugee Populations in Panama, with the participation of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The event, which was held in the Latin American Parliament, was attended by government authorities and representatives of the agencies, funds and programs of the United Nations System that comprise the Human Mobility Group, among others.
In recent years, the Republic of Panama has experienced a significant increase of migrant flows. Because of its geographical position in Central America, along with North America and the Caribbean, it is part of the main region of origin, transit, destination, and return of migrants in the world. Many of the migrants, as they face great changes and losses from their family, social, cultural and economic environment, present expected emotional side effects during this process. Consequently, these emotional side effects come with a series of resources and potentialities that can be overshadowed by lack of information, preventing them to effectively integrate into the host communities.
Part of the work in the field of mental health carried out by IOM in Panama is aimed at strengthening resilience and facilitating tools for adaptation and integration of migrants into host communities for the prevention of psychosocial distress and the promotion of mental health as a state of well-being.
Santiago Paz, Head of IOM's Global Administrative Centre and Mission in Panama, said that "this technical standard is the continuation of Panama's efforts towards the inclusion of all persons that cohabit the country and not leave anyone behind, and progress towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals, by recognizing the importance of guaranteeing health coverage for migrants and refugees, taking into account the differential needs of this population group, a greater understanding of the migratory phenomenon, and the psychosocial needs of migrants and their respective approach."
The Technical Standard for Mental Health Care for Migrant and Refugee Populations in Panama is the result of hard work and effort by the Ministry of Health in order to make Panama one of the first countries in the region to make this type of tool available, which marks a milestone in terms of progress towards the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals; from Goal 3 regarding Good Health and Well-being, and Target 10.7 on Orderly and Safe Migration, through well-managed migration policies, among others.
In this context, IOM reaffirms its commitment to the Ministry of Health, State institutions, UN agencies and other strategic partners involved in the mental health response for migrant population and host communities, especially after a challenging situation such as the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
IOM will continue to accompany the Ministry of Health in the next phase of the operationalization of the Technical Standard, which will be possible due to the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that contributes the strengthening of capacities of strategic actors.
Press Contact: Maytte Zachrisson: mzachrisson@iom.int
