Hanoi (VNA) – A migrant health handbook, whichprovides basic information, advice and guidance for health needs of migrantworkers, was introduced at a workshop held by the General Office for Populationand Family Planning (GOPFP) in collaboration with the InternationalOrganisation for Migration (IOM) in Vietnam in Hanoi on July 18.

Addressing the event, GOPFP Director General Nguyen Doan Tu said migration is a global phenomenon, with around 281 million internationalmigrants worldwide; 48% of whom were women and 60% were migrant workers.

Vietnam’s population has reached 98 million, ranking 15th globally, eighth in Asia and third in ASEAN, Tu said. The country's working-agepopulation, aged 15 – 64, is estimated at some 66.6 million, or 68% of thetotal, he noted, adding that though such a large workforce brings variousopportunities for Vietnam’s socio-economic development, it has profound impactson migration flows in the country.

He described migrants as a vulnerable group of people,noting that migrants, particularly international ones, often face numerouschallenges in the host destinations when it comes to languages, culture,lifestyle, legal knowledge, family separation and others.

Lack of access to medical services also affects their lives,physical and mental health, according to Tu. Healthy migrants can be crucialworkforce for the well-being of businesses and the economy as a whole, he said.

The migrant health handbook was initiated by a technicalgroup for migrant health in Vietnam established by the Ministry of Health. It wasdeveloped with advice from specialists from the Republic of Korea and Japanwith the support from the IOM in Vietnam.

The Question & Answer handbook offers fundamentalknowledge on Vietnam’s health system; social security and healthinsurances; as well as advice and guidance on occupational safety; preventionof communicable diseases; reproductive health; mental health; building ahealthy lifestyle; support and protection of oversea migrants; and others.

The digital version of the handbook will be released in thecoming time and constantly updated to stay relevant with Vietnam’s changingsituation.

A similar handbook for Vietnamese migrants living in differentforeign countries will also be developed.

Mihyung Park, Chief of Mission at IOM Vietnam, highly spokeof the country’s efforts in ensuring the well-being of Vietnamese migrantsoverseas at the time of COVID-19. IOM has discussed with concerned parties inJapan and the RoK about establishing a platform for cooperation in protectinghealth of Vietnamese migrants and feedback has been positive.

About 600,000 Vietnamese migrants are living and working inmore than 40 countries and territories worldwide. Remittance to Vietnam wasestimated at around 3 – 4 billion USD annually./.