South Africa: Improve Migrants' Access to Health Care

On December 7, 2009, the Human Rights Watch reported the denial of health care and treatment to South Africa's large population of asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants. The article states, "South Africa's foreign-born residents, who are particularly vulnerable to disease and injury, face xenophobic violence as well as systematic discrimination in obtaining basic care".

Just in case somebody doesn't know, xenophobia is defined as "an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange".

The 89-page report, "No Healing Here: Violence, Discrimination and Barriers to Health for Migrants in South Africa," describes how harassment, lack of documentation, and the credible fear of deportation prevent many newcomers from seeking medical treatment even though South African law and policy state that asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants have a right to care. Those who do seek treatment are often mistreated and verbally abused by health care workers and denied care or charged unlawful fees.

"Migrants to South Africa are abused in transit, attacked upon arrival, and then denied care when they are injured or ill," said Rebecca Shaeffer, fellow in the health and human rights division of Human Rights Watch. "The South African government should be ensuring that these people get the care they need, and are entitled to, under the country's constitution."

To view the full article, http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/12/07/south-africa-improve-migrants-access-health-care.