Mission Asylum seekers
Beneficiaries:
» 22% of first-time patients in the CASOs are asylum seekers.
Common conditions:
» Anxiety-stress-somatic problems, post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive syndrome, abdominal/gastric pain, gum and teeth problems, respiratory infections, back problems, parasites/ candidosis, high blood pressure...
Funding:
» GRSP, Regional Councils, General Councils, Town Councils…
2007 was the first year of application of the new immigration law, which brought a toughening of all the legislation relating to the right to asylum and to medical visas. This was accompanied by the instrumentalisation of science and medicine for immigration purposes. The EURODAC system and the increase in fast-track processing of requests have seen asylum seekers become increasingly vulnerable, particularly during their first months in France.
Psycho-logical and medical support for asylum seekers
» Paris (CAFDA) + 21 Heathcare and guidance centres (CASO)
Activities:
Healthcare and Guidance Centres (CASOs):
France is failing to honour its commitments in relation to asylum, despite its international obligations. Since 2004 we have seen a fall in asylum applications in France, and this continued and accelerated in 2006. In 2007, 22% of the patients in the 21 CASOs were asylum seekers. MdM refers people towards mainstream health services. Some of the CASO doctors support asylum applications by providing medical certificates documenting evidence of torture or ill-treatment. The migration journey can result in psychological and physical problems which our teams take into account, and psychological support services are being developed in some centres.
CAFDA programme:
MdM set up a consultation and referral service for newly arrived asylum-seeking families in the premises of our partner CAFDA (Reception centre for asylum-seeking families). In 2007, MdM provided consultations to 346 families, equivalent to 57% of the families attending CAFDA.
Types of work:
Our programmes provide consultations, disseminate prevention messages and refer asylum seekers to partners and mainstream health services. Testimonies about their difficult living conditions help to slow down the withdrawal of their rights. The analysis of medical and social data collected in each centre feeds into our programme reports and our lobbying of the authorities.
Outlook:
MdM continues to advocate for all asylum seekers, irrespective of their status, to be able to access healthcare and to access mainstream health services. MdM is also lobbying for seriously ill foreign nationals who do not have access to appropriate treatment in their countries of origin to be given medical
visas.
August 2008