Taha Maatoug is a public health physician with more than 11 years of experience in the field. He specialises in field epidemiology and is Deputy Regional Director of Primary Health Care. His expertise is in epidemiological surveillance and infectious disease control.
Can you tell us what attracted you to the MENA Migrant Health Project?
The MENA Migrant Health Project addresses a real need in the MENA region, particularly in Tunisia. Tunisia has become a country of residence for migrants, rather than a country of transit.
The Tunisian health system is facing significant health challenges due to the growing number of migrants and their diverse backgrounds, cultures and needs. Stakeholders need an evidence-based understanding of the changing situation to address these difficulties. A novel tool offered by the MENA Migrant Project can help us understand the health characteristics of migrants.
Your research focuses on tuberculosis. What made you interested in this area? What is the current situation of migrant populations?
Despite being a preventable and mostly curable disease, tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious public health problem in the MENA region. There are more than 10 million new cases yearly, and more than 90% occur in low- and middle-income countries. The rising incidence of TB in several MENA countries has been linked to increasing migration flows. Our literature review suggests that TB incidence is higher among migrants than nationals, and compared with non-migrants, migrants with TB were younger, more likely to have multidrug-resistant TB, have a lower risk of extrapulmonary TB and lower TB-related mortality.
What do you hope to achieve personally and professionally by completing your PhD?
I hope to deepen my understanding of public health challenges, particularly about migrants, and enhance my skills in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. Professionally, I would like to contribute valuable research that can improve health strategies for migrants in Tunisia and enhance my role in shaping effective health policies.
How do you see the future of the MENA Migrant Health project and its role in improving the health of migrants in the region?
I believe that the MENA Migrant Health project will play a key role in improving the health of migrants in the region. The project aims to address the specific health needs of migrants by promoting targeted treatments and policy changes by providing comprehensive data and evidence.
