A new pilot migration and health project "HIV/AIDS Prevention among Migrants in the Republic of Moldova" funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS/TB/Malaria and the Soros Foundation-Moldova has been launched in Moldova aimed at addressing the health concerns of Moldovan migrants.

The initiative is part of a wider IOM strategy prevention of diseases linked to migration and improvement of medical services for migrants abroad. It follows the findings of a joint IOM, International Monetary Fund and European Commission study on Migration and Remittances in Moldova last year that found that nearly 49 per cent of migrants reported that their health in host countries had been poor. About 22 per cent of the migrants questioned, had blamed their poor working conditions while being abroad as cause of their worsening, while other 45 per cent of Moldovans working abroad acknowledged having worked in health damaging conditions

With mobile population at a high risk to HIV due to limited access to information and health services, separation from families and spouses, and given that at least 10 per cent of Moldovans have emigrated, the rising levels of HIV infection and general health conditions of migrants have become a growing cause for concern among the authorities. Nearly 2,900 Moldovans are registered as living with HIV/AIDS in the country since the onset of the epidemic in the late 1980's, according to World Health Organization.

IOM Moldova, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the National Migration Bureau, as well as in collaboration with a number of international agencies from Moldova, will develop throughout 12 months, concrete actions targeting the prevention of HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and other health issues faced by the migrants of the Republic of Moldova.

At the press conference launching the event, Stefan Gheorghita, the project key person from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection welcomed this project and pointed out its importance for the Republic of Moldova where over 400 thousand people are working abroad.

The IOM Project coordinator, Ecaterina Damian stated that "the project will include several comprehensive activities aiming to address the issues of migrants' health". A first of its kind for IOM Moldova, the project will organize a roundtable on health and migration bringing together local government agencies, international experts and the civil society and will conduct a comprehensive survey of sexual behaviour patterns and health risks among Moldovan migrants. Further, IOM Moldova will carry out pilot prevention/information activities in the main destination countries - Russia and Italy, and Moldova; namely preventive HIV/AIDS mass information campaigns targeting actual or potential migrants and mobile population.

For further information, please contact Ecaterina Damian, IOM Chisinau, Tel. +373 222 329 41/ ext.109, edamian@iom.int