COVID has exposed how to advance the migration and health Agenda in Africa. With covid deaths on a significant decline on the continent, Dr.Michela Martini will be offering expert advice on how Africa needs to position itself well to also support migration governance post-covid.

80 percent of the African population move across borders to the neighboring countries due to climate change, urbanization, conflict crisis etc., factors that will continue to increase human mobility. Migration is a positive development because it increases the GDP for the country hosting migrants and also the remittances improving families left behind. The African Union and the regional economic commission have committed operationalize the free movement of people as a core pillar in the African world however the health aspect of the regional integration free movement is still neglected. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many countries are still struggling with negative health indicators and fragile health systems in addition to conflict crisis factors that make the progress of the health sector more challenging. Another threat challenging the advancement of the public health agenda for Africa is the link between human mobility and health where the spread of COVID has made an unprecedented impact not only on trade, economy, and social life but also has shown the inequality with migrants being affected differently and more and often left behind the response and assistance in many of our countries. There is a need to take timely action for the Africa we want in terms of public health agenda that has the highest interest in mobility, and consider the opportunity to strengthen the health systems and social policies that can be able to accommodate both citizens and non-citizens. The migrant inclusion in our health systems should guide the advancement of our public health agenda in Africa, enhancing the regional movement of persons protocol and regional integration.