Mapping Children on the Move within Africa
Map 9: Overview of returns policy frameworks in Africa
(Source: IOM Migration Data Portal)
5.9 Lack of access to health and health services
Existing research indicates that children on the move face many challenges especially in
respect to their right to health. Many displaced people including children tend to be concentrated
in certain places such as camps where the expectation is that they will be supported with water,
health services, shelter, education and security. In the camps, these services may be inadequate
because access to the services is mostly facilitated through donations which are often less than
the demand.
For children not residing in camps, the health risks they face is even higher. Essentially although
movements do not per se lead to poor health, the way and the context within which people move
may lead to poor health.432 For instance, income disparities, alcohol use, separation from family
and absence of prevention programmes may lead to poor health.433 During movements, children
are also exposed to health risks with the outbreak of several pandemics including measles or
water-borne diseases.434 As the health system infrastructure in the countries in the region is
largely precarious, international organisations are key providers of such services.
As noted by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in General Comment No.6 unaccompanied
children are often discriminated against and denied access to food and health services.435 In many
instances, migrant child labourers are exposed to adverse working and living conditions which
leads to poor health but unlike local children they may not have access to public health services.436
This is attributable to their ‘illegal status’ or inability to raise money to pay for medical services
and lack of health insurance.437 Lack of access to health care services to migrant child labourers
432
433
434
435
436
437
IOM, An Analysis of Migration Health in Kenya (2011) P 5.
As above.
See for instance UNICEF. Burundian refugees: Humanitarian Action for Children. 2016.
https://www.unicef.org/appeals/files/HAC_2016_Burundi_Refugees.pdf
CRC, General Comment No 6, Para 3.
H van de Glind & A Kou, Migrant children in child labour: A vulnerable group in need of attention
in IOM, Children on the Move (2013) p 37.
As above.
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