SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Sep 7 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The General Directorate of Assistance Programs of the Canary Islands Health Service has published on its website the ‘Recommendations for the assistance to the asymptomatic African migrant under 15 years of age’, a document that includes both the administrative reception procedures, the socio-sanitary approach and the attention to cultural diversity, such as the development of preventive activities such as vaccination and the prevention of female genital mutilation, among others.
Thus, the focus of the intervention of Social Work teams is also included in this work, totally essential for this vulnerable group.
In order to respond to the social health requirements that the current migration crisis generates, this document has been prepared and published, the objective of which is that these recommendations can be implemented in all the islands.
The objectives of these recommendations are: to guarantee and facilitate adequate initial health care for migrants under 15 years of age (accompanied and unaccompanied) from Africa, incorporating them into the Canary Islands Child Health Program; standardize the complementary tests used to screen for disease in asymptomatic minors up to 15 years of age from Africa, have a document that defines the coordination channels between the different entities involved in the care of these people, and create information circuits that facilitate the continuity of health care for this vulnerable population.
These recommendations, based on the evidence available in such a changing issue and in many cases with organizational difficulties, seek to develop an equitable approach in the initial assistance of this population with so many needs, the Ministry specifies in a note.
For this reason, a multidisciplinary approach is recommended in which professionals from Pediatrics, Nursing, Family Medicine, Gynecology, midwives, Social Work, Nursing assistants, orderlies, administrative staff and oral Health units take part.
The document also establishes the protocol to be followed regarding the health care of migrants in residential care, the reception visits, the completion of complementary tests, the assessment by Nursing and the intervention of Social Work.
All these actions must always consider essential aspects in assisting this group, such as their language and culture and possible imported diseases (infectious or not).
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
Regarding female genital mutilation, the document establishes that this practice constitutes a crime and should not be taken as a traditional custom, of which the family must be informed upon arrival.
In order to prevent this type of practice, a ‘Document of non-performance’ has been established that must be signed by the parents after receiving this information.
Before the detection of genital mutilation, carried out after the family has been informed, the report of injuries will be sent to the Guard Court and the letter of notification to the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office.
In addition, it will be communicated to the social worker of the Health Center, who will coordinate with the devices that are necessary and in the event of the suspicion of an attempt to carry it out, the notification will also be carried out.
COLLABORATIVE WORK
The document is the product of the collaborative work of the different disciplines involved in this healthcare process.
Thus, professionals from the Primary Care Managements, Hospital Managements (Pediatric services and heads of central and microbiology laboratories), the General Directorate for Child and Family Protection of the Government of the Canary Islands and the SCS General Directorate of Assistance Programs have participated. .
MIGRANTS IN THE CANARY ISLANDS
According to data published by the Ministry of the Interior, since the beginning of 2020, most arrivals to Europe in recent months by sea have occurred in the Canary Islands, increasing more than 1,000 percent compared to 2019.
Most of the migrants come from Morocco, Mali, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Senegal.
The Government of the Canary Islands currently protects around 2,500 unaccompanied minors who arrived irregularly by sea to the archipelago, a factor that implies more than six times the figures of the previous year on these same dates.
The Ministry of Health appreciates the effort made by the initial work group of the Primary Care Management of Gran Canaria and, later, the group of professionals who have collaborated coordinated by the General Directorate of Assistance Programs.
