Areas of Work

Border and Migrant Health Programme

As of late 2009, there were an estimated 2-3 million migrants living and working in Thailand and an additional 141,000 displaced persons from Myanmar residing in temporary shelters along the border. [1] The number of displaced persons has remained relatively constant since the shelters were first established in the 1980’s. (Click here for more on displaced persons) The number of migrants (predominantly from Myanmar) has fluctuated with the economic trends in Thailand. Their numbers have steadily risen since 2004. (Click here for more on non-Thai migrant populations)

Health services for displaced persons are provided primarily by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) funded by international donors.  Access to health care for economic migrants is reliant on a complex classification of their legal and administrative status in the country.  The health security of both displaced persons and migrants is closely linked to local Thai communities in which they reside.

For well over a decade, WHO has supported programs aimed at strengthening the health and well-being of displaced persons and migrant populations in Thailand.  The overall objective of WHO’s efforts is to contribute to the improved health status of these populations—particularly those in the border areas-- through three major components: 

1) health system strengthening

2) technical support

3) advocacy and coordination

Achieving all three components of this objective is challenging task.  Nevertheless, WHO hopes to take on these challenges and ultimately improve the health status of all residents in Thailand and address systemic challenges facing migrants/displaced persons. 

Publications

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International Organization for Migration, Thailand Migration Report 2011. Bangkok: IOM, 2011