Rene Leyva-Flores

For 20 years, I have developed scientific research on the relationship of migration and health, especially focused on migrants in transit through Mexico who come from 55 countries of the world, also with seasonal farm workers, who mostly correspond to ethnic groups. One of the most relevant areas analyzed is the relationship between migration and HIV in migrants in transit, sex workers and different groups of sexual diversity in Mexico and Central America. Other relevant current issues have been the analysis of the situation of violence suffered by migrants, especially sexual violence. The information generated has served as a reference for the design of strategies and actions for prevention and attention of risks and damages in health and for the design of public policies by the governments of Mexico and Central America. In the case of the relationship between migration and HIV, all the governments of Central America and Mexico recognized the issue as part of the national health policies. Those facilitate access to comprehensive health care and especially access to antiretroviral drugs. This project was supported by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and tuberculosis in Central America. For the problem of sexual violence, the government health services of Mexico and civil society organizations implemented a strategy to address the consequences on the physical and mental health of those affected, as well as their legal support for access to the Justice. Following this line of research, evidence has been provided for Mexico government to modify the current health insurance policy to include all migrants, regardless of their immigration status.