On March 30th, 2022, the Globalisation and Development (GAD) Programme held its second guest lecture of the GAD International Organisations Lecture Series 2022. Invited by Professor Kwok Cho Tang (also Professor of GAD’s “International Organisations” course), Prof. Davide Mosca, a former director of migration health at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – the United Nations’ key agency for migration – and a professional medical doctor in global and migrant health, delivered a lecture to students on the topic of “contemporary health and migration”.

Prof. Davide Mosca

The interlinkage between migration and the cross-border international spread of diseases has been a long-standing public health concern. However, the recognition of migration as a determination of health and a factor impacting in diverse forms on the health of migrants is rather recent. In his lecture, Prof. Mosca provided an overview of the foundations of the evolving global migration and health agenda, current dynamics in a globalized and interdependent world, challenges and approaches at policy and response level, and future perspectives.

When asked by the audience about the impact of COVID-19 on migration, Prof. Mosca stressed that in a globalized world and in interconnected societies, nobody is truly safe until everyone is as well, and that social exclusion pays no public health dividends. On the health side, global health security cannot be realized in the contemporary world without a marked degree of individual health security, regardless of migratory status. Governance leaders should therefore strive to build solid alliances across sectors so as to tackle health and migration simoutaneously.

Prof. Mosca has expertise in global and migrant health, humanitarian response and emergencies, with more than twenty-five years spent in Africa and the Middle East. During his ten years tenure in the position of the director of IOM, he has contributed to advancing the global migration health agenda by participating in the processes that led to the adoption of resolutions, compacts, and policies at global level and in various countries. He has published several studies on migration health and global health issues, and has provided training, teaching, and lectures on migrant health worldwide. He is currently a consultant to WHO, IOM, and the UN Migration Network, and the founder of the advocacy network “Realizing Health SDGs for Migrants, Displaced and Communities”.

The GAD Programme thanks Prof. Mosca for taking time from his busy schedule to be a guest at the GAD IO Lecture Series. His presence and sharing enlightened and inspire all the students and faculty membersattending both in person and online. The GAD Programmes looks forward to the next interaction with Prof. Mosca soon!