Responding to the Health Needs of Refugees

It is widely known that Malaysia is not a signatory of the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention. That means the refugee status is not recognised in the country, and refugees are seen as undocumented or illegal immigrants. This has wide implications on the health of refugees, especially on their access to healthcare services in the country. To help us understand more about the situation on the ground, we’re speaking to child rights activist Datuk Dr Hartini Zainuddin, and Dr Susheela Balasundaram, head of the Public Health Unit at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia.