Population, territory and sustainable development

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The different levels of government (local, provincial/ state and national) have tended to function
disjointedly on health policy initiatives geared to the migrant population, which has fragmented government
action. Levels of government therefore need coordination measures in order to respond effectively (Canales,
Martínez, Reboiras and Rivera, 2010). Health services in border areas are clearly deficient or insufficient to
cope with existing demand of the national population, much less that of migrants. Local governments should
engage with designing and implementing strategies for strengthening the State presence and matching
supply to the real needs of the border population, whether local or migrant.
The role of civil society organizations should be strengthened and greater support should be
provided for the work of international and non-governmental organizations in the area, whether in terms
of finances or at the level of political commitment by Governments. Governmental and non-governmental
organizations should set up and pursue regular and systematic health and migration initiatives,
programmes and projects. Border migrants should be recognized as deserving special protection, bearing
in mind the heterogeneity of these populations. Initiatives will be needed to cater for groups that are at
greater risk: children and adolescents, in particular those travelling unaccompanied, and women migrants.
Other concerns, such as education and access to social services, are also extremely important, although
these exceed the scope of this report.
Lastly, adequate logistics and technical and specialized staff, together with suitable training, are
needed to deal with the migrant population in border areas. Non-governmental organizations are among
the few support and welfare networks that border migrants can rely on and the most efficient channel for
assistance, which makes them an indispensable part of the solutions explored in the region. However, they
are overwhelmed by growing demand and the scarcity of resources; hence the need to explore regular
financing channels and long-term solutions and to establish collaboration ties between public agencies
and civil society organizations.