Egyptian Red Crescent: Providing primary health care services to migrants and Egyptians in Greater Cairo

• 233’045 refugees and asylum-seekers of 58 different nationalities are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a number estimated to represent a fraction of reality (August 2018). Egypt also hosts a large number of irregular or not yet registered migrants (estimations go up to 5 million).
• In this mixed migration context, gaps in primary health care services are poorly addressed at the national and local levels.
• This at a time when the country also faces economic hardship.
• The government’s health expenditure is low, resulting in around 60% of total health spending taking the form of out-of-pocket expenditure.
• This low investment in health services led to serious compromises in quality, safety, and prevention, as well as in concerns around equity of access to services for both Egyptians and migrants.
• The support provided by UNHCR and other NGOs is hardly sufficient in addressing the multitude of problems and obstacles that refugees and migrants face in achieving their sustenance and basic rights.

Outcome 1:

Access to primary health care services for migrants and vulnerable Egyptians is improved, with a special focus on women and children well-being. 

Outcome 2:

Knowledge on disease prevention, existing health care services and psychosocial wellbeing is strengthened, through awareness raising and psychosocial activities 

Outcome 3:

Policy makers and duty bearers are aware of ways to address gaps in primary health care services for migrants, refugees and vulnerable Egyptians.

Resultados previstos:  

Output 1.1

38’400 migrants and Egyptians improved their health and psychosocial well-being through the setup of two “Mobile Clinics”. 

Output 1.2

Setting up a laboratory, internal medicine, genecology and paediatric units within each “Mobile Clinics” 

Output 2.1

70’000 migrants and Egyptians increased their health knowledge on disease prevention, available health services and psycho-social wellbeing in Cairo, Giza and Qalioubya through awareness raising activities. 

Output 3.1

Policy makers in health and migration participated in discussion on ways to address gaps in primary health care services through 4 roundtable discussions and an advocacy brief.

UNHCR – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

IOM – International Organization Migration

MoHP – Ministry of Health and Population

MoSS - Ministry of Social Solidarity