Anissa Ouahchi is a medical doctor working as a programme manager. She has experience in sexual and reproductive health research, where she has also gained skills in project management and training of health workers.
What attracted you to the MENA Migrant Health project?
Migrant women face a range of sexual and reproductive health challenges, including sexual coercion, high rates of unwanted pregnancy, lack of knowledge about health services or social assistance, and lack of jobs, which leads to a lack of access to health insurance. Before joining the MENA Migrant Health project, I had already participated in a research study about migrants’ socioeconomic and health vulnerabilities for effective access to health services in Tunisia, and I coordinated another one on the national mapping of migrants and organisations providing health services in that country. My interest in the field of migration has grown, especially as there are still activities to be carried out to ensure better care for migrants in vulnerable situations. The MENA Migrant Health project is an opportunity to strengthen my knowledge of migration and, most importantly, my research skills.
Your research focuses on maternal and neonatal health. What sparked your interest in this area?
Since joining my institution, I worked with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), where I participated in training for health officials from sub-Saharan partner countries in maternal and neonatal health project management. I then took on another project with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to improve maternal and neonatal health in Tunisia. Later, my work with IOM on migrants’ access to sexual and reproductive health services strengthened my desire to deepen my work, particularly in the field of research on maternal and neonatal health for migrant women, especially the most vulnerable, to highlight their difficulties in accessing health services and the health problems that arise from their situation.
What do you hope to achieve personally and professionally after completing your PhD?Â
I will have fulfilled my desire to strengthen my research skills. Professionally, everything I’m learning through my PhD registration will be very important for my current career and as a future researcher in sexual and reproductive health. This PhD will enable me to contribute even more effectively to improving health, especially for the vulnerable populations my institution serves.
How do you envision the future of the MENA Migrant Health project and its role in improving migrant health in the region?
Through this international project, the partnership between countries will be strengthened as they share the same goals and can share their experiences. In addition, we will eventually have a database on the health profile of migrants, which is very important to understand their health situation and strengthen their right to health.
