HEALTH MINISTER MEETS IOM REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On May 29, A.Tsogtsetseg, Health Minister of Mongolia received Maria Nenette Motus, Regional Director of International Organization for Migration (IOM) for Asia and the Pacific. At the meeting, Maria Nenette Motus introduced that the IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people. In turn, the Mongolian Health Minister, after expressing her gratitude for exchanging opinions on bilateral cooperation between Mongolia and IOM, said that a lot of Mongolian people are interested in working abroad due to the current economic downfall of Mongolia and low wages. "Not a few of them are working and living illegally overseas and their health conditions are pressing issues for Mongolia. In this regard, the IOM will pay attention to promote cooperation with a view to improve their access to health care service. At the end of the meeting, the sides agreed to pay attention on the health conditions of foreigners in Mongolia as well as Mongolians residing overseas, especially of illegal immigrants by studying possibilities for providing health care service and cooperating with line ministries. Since IOM Mongolia Country Office opened in September 2011, it has provided assistance for some 1163 Mongolians who returned to their homeland from abroad, and protection services to 191 victims of human trafficking. B.Oyundelger