The main objective of XXXIII International Conference is to inform, to know, and to act on the inequality of health care across the world.

Vatican City, November 17, 2017 – The Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN), represented by the Executive Director, Fr. Leonir Chiarello, and the Director of Development and Fundraising, Patrick Gage, are taking part in the XXXII International Conference organized by the International Confederation of Catholic Health-Care Institutions (CIISAC) and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. With the title “Addressing Global Health Disparities,” the event is taking place from November 16 to 18, 2017. The Conference is focus on health care gaps across the globe, including those faced by migrants and refugees. A number of important stakeholders are attending, including Ascension, the Gates Foundation, Caritas and different health care providers from five continents. 

One of the main objectives of the conference is to inform people about disparities in the field of health in the world in order to establish a common pathway that will be able to lead to – and foster – a growing contribution to healthcare institutions in relation to the most critical subjects of health care at local, national, regional and global levels in order to address disparities in an adequate way.

The international conference intends to establish an operational platform for sharing and cooperation of Catholic health-care institutions from a technical point of view.

“Our participation in this Conference is significant, because migrants, refugees, deportees and seafarers are suffering the consequences of the inequalities of health care systems and we are called to act in communion of other catholic organizations in order to find effective solutions for this inequalities”, says the Executive Director of SIMN.

About SIMN – SIMN is supporting more than 250 Scalabrinian centers, shelters and programs that are providing lodging, food, training and employment programs; psychological and religious services; protection to victims of human trafficking and support in the integration process to migrants, refugees and seafarers in five continents. In 2016, for example, Scalabrinian Centers has supported 120,738 migrants and refugees and 172,790 seafarers around the world. SIMN is also supporting a network of schools providing education, school supplies, and food, (possibly their only meal of the day) to thousands of needy children. In addition, SIMN is an accredited Non-Governmental Organization at the United Nations, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Organization of American States (OAS) and from this perspective is providing research and support for regional and global policies to protect and promote the dignity and the rights of migrants and their families.