Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire - In a significant step towards enhancing mental health support for returning migrants and victims of trafficking, the Ivoirian government has validated a set of tools aimed at improving their care. The validation took place during a four-day national workshop that concluded on September 25, 2026, in Abidjan. These tools include standard operational procedures, a national referral mechanism, a digital platform called TILA, and training modules.
The primary goal of these tools is to harmonize practices and strengthen coordination among the various stakeholders involved in providing support to these populations. The workshop brought together concerned actors to focus on strengthening the national mental health and psychosocial support system for returning migrants and victims of trafficking and illicit trafficking. Discussions centered on harmonizing procedures, improving referral circuits, and enhancing collaboration among different sectors.
Representing the Minister of Health, Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage, Dr. Ehui, a technical advisor, urged stakeholders to effectively utilize these tools to better address the needs of the affected individuals and facilitate their sustainable reintegration into society. He emphasized the importance of providing supportive and caring attention to these individuals, highlighting the need to combat social and familial stigmatization they might face.
The program director of Expertise France, Mme Roirom, reaffirmed her institution's commitment to supporting the National Mental Health Program (PNSM) in implementing the validated tools. She stressed that their collective responsibility begins now, calling for the translation of the workshop's achievements into practical actions and the full operationalization of the developed mechanisms.
The workshop, which took place from September 22 to 25, 2026, in Abidjan, was a collaborative effort to enhance the national dispositif for mental health care and psychosocial support. It aimed to address the specific needs of returning migrants and victims of trafficking, ensuring a more cohesive and effective support system.
Key stakeholders, including government representatives and international organizations, participated in the workshop, underscoring the importance of a multi-sectoral approach to tackling the complex issues faced by these populations. The validation of these tools marks a crucial step towards ensuring that returning migrants and trafficking victims receive the mental health support and psychosocial care they need.
The implementation of these tools is expected to significantly improve the mental health and well-being of returning migrants and victims of trafficking in Côte d'Ivoire. By enhancing coordination and standardizing procedures, the Ivoirian government aims to provide more effective and sustainable support to these vulnerable populations.
Key points
- The Ivoirian government has validated tools to improve mental health support for returning migrants and victims of trafficking.
- The tools include standard operational procedures, a national referral mechanism, a digital platform, and training modules.
- The implementation aims to harmonize practices, strengthen coordination, and provide sustainable support to vulnerable populations.
