Sotto l'Alto Patronato del Presidente della Repubblica 

Under the Distinguished Patronage of the President 
of the Italian Republic

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Home Welcome Message Invitation to the Conference on Migration and Travel Health

Migration and Travel Health Print
Invitation to the Mediterranean Conference on Migration and Travel Health
Verona (Italy) September 8 - 9, 2009

Italy is a natural bridge between North and South, as well as between Eastern and Western European countries. Formerly a country of emigration, Italy now shares with other Mediterranean countries the burden of the recent, heavy wave of immigration. We found therefore opportune to associate to the main Congress a first Mediterranean Conference on Migration and Travel Health.

The Conference is hosted in the same facilities as the main Congress and will run in parallel with the latter for two days.

We believe that many themes are transversal to both congresses, and particularly so the main lens on Equity, Human Rights and Access to Care.

Nevertheless, migration and travel health have also specific aspects that justify a specific forum. The health issues raised by immigration range from the need to provide adequate access to essential care to the new citizens (including undocumented immigrants), to the problem of “new” diseases challenging health professionals who usually lack specific experience and training. The so-called Travel Medicine is also increasingly dealing with a new category of immigrant travellers, usually referred to as VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives), who travel back to their home country after a variable and often long residence in the host country: they are exposed to a higher risk than the ordinary European travellers, yet they are much more likely to travel with no prevention, often with children born in Europe and travelling for the first time.

Registered participants to the Congress will be entitled to follow sessions of the Conference, too. It is also possible to register to the Conference only, for a reduced fee: registered delegates will have the option to follow any session of the Congress, too, during the two days. We look forward to seeing you in Verona!

On behalf of the Scientific Committee:

Francesco Castelli

Director Post-Graduate School in Tropical Medicine University of Brescia and
Unit for Tropical and Imported Diseases, Hospital of Brescia
 

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