As part of the SIHHAT Project, Scientific Advisory Board Meetings on Migration Health have been convened to develop evidence-based policymaking tools and to provide recommendations for improving the healthcare services offered to migrants. These meetings bring together representatives of the Ministry of Health, stakeholder public institutions, national and international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and academics.
• The first meeting, addressing reproductive health, mental health, and immunization, was held on 21 January 2022.
•The second meeting, on ‘Mental Health and Psychosocial Support,’ took place on 30 November 2022.
•The third meeting, focusing on ‘Reproductive Health Services Provided to Migrants,’ was convened on 12 April 2023.
•The fourth meeting, on ‘Mobile Health and Outreach Services,’ was held in Ankara on 15 November 2023.
The fifth meeting of the Migration Health Scientific Advisory Board, which was established to strengthen evidence-based policy-making processes in health services provided to migrants, was successfully held on 29 April 2025 at the Ministry of Health in Ankara.
Director General of Public Health Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Emin DEMİRKOL, Deputy Director General of Public Health Spc. Dr. Hamit Harun BAĞCI, Cooperation Coordinator of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey Maria Luisa WYGANOWSKI, Head of Department of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey Laurent GUIRKINGER, Deputy Head of FRIT Department of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey Esther BOUMA, Programme Manager of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkey Elif ELÇİ, Heads of Departments of the Directorate General of Public Health, academicians and SIHHAT Project Management Team attended the meeting. During the meeting, ‘Possible Effects of Current Developments in Syria on SIHHAT Project’ was evaluated.
Sixth Meeting of the SIHHAT Project Migration Health Scientific Advisory Board Held with Focus on Health Literacy
The sixth meeting of the Migration Health Scientific Advisory Board, established to strengthen evidence-based policy-making processes in health services provided to migrants, was successfully held on 7 April 2026 at the Ministry of Health in Ankara.
The meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Muhammed Nur ÖĞÜN, Deputy Director General of Public Health; Esther BOUMA, Team Leader of the European Union Delegation to Türkiye; Muhammed Zahid KAYA, Head of the Department of Migration Health of the General Directorate of Public Health; other relevant department heads; members of the Scientific Advisory Board; representatives of the Presidency of Migration Management; and representatives of relevant institutions and organisations.
The main discussion topics of the meeting were as follows:
- Needs assessment of health literacy among migrants,
- Enhancing the health literacy levels of healthcare professionals,
- Health literacy-friendly migrant health centres,
- From health knowledge to action: practices and communication techniques that strengthen health literacy.
- The meeting, which was marked by intense interest and productive exchanges, concluded with important outcomes aimed at improving the quality of migrant health services.