MR. SOLO
PIRAEUS, ATHENS
MR. KALY & IAN
Documenting migrant healthcare inequities across Europe
OVERVIEW
For the past two years, I’ve been working with Mi-Health Europe, a healthcare initiative focused on addressing healthcare inequities for migrant communities across Europe. Our partnership explores the stories of migrants in Greece, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and France, documenting their experiences and challenges in accessing healthcare. This work builds on my previous collaborations with healthcare-focused initiatives like Nobody Left Outside and migrant advocacy groups such as Care-for-Calais and the Kent Refugee Action Network.
A huge thanks to our dedicated collaborators: Denis and Anne from Mi-Health, Ian, founder of Open Paths Athens, and Luciano, founder of LHIVE in Catania.
MS. SODA
THE MI-HEALTH EUROPE MISSION
Mi-Health Europe is dedicated to empowering migrant communities by sharing expertise among community-led organizations across ten European countries. The initiative addresses the barriers migrants face when trying to access healthcare—be they legal, linguistic, cultural, or structural. Their goal is to ensure equitable healthcare for all, regardless of immigration status, while raising awareness about the health disparities that disproportionately affect migrant populations.
In a region where 36% of the global migrant population resides, fewer than half of the WHO European Region’s member states report health data for migrants, leading to a systemic failure to address these inequities. Mi-Health Europe strives to change that, advocating for inclusive policies and culturally sensitive healthcare solutions that meet migrants where they are.
MR. KALY
MR. SANA
My activism made me a target. One evening men stormed into my home, and took me away to a detention center. For months, I endured unimaginable torture, all because I dared to speak out against injustice.
- MR. KALY
MS.JOSEPHINE
THE VOICES OF EUROPE’S HEALTHCARE CRISIS
As part of this ongoing project, I have been documenting the lived realities of migrants across Europe—capturing their resilience in the face of healthcare barriers. Through interviews and photography, I aim to humanize these complex challenges and bring visibility to the healthcare disparities that continue to marginalize migrant communities.
These stories are representative of the broader migrant experience across Europe, where individuals and families encounter legal, social, and healthcare barriers that threaten their well-being. The project is continually uncovering new stories from across Europe, showing that while each migrant’s experience is unique, they collectively highlight the urgent need for equitable healthcare solutions.
MR. RIAD AND LUCIANO
What I want politicians to understand about migrants is that racism, marginalization, stigma, and invisibility are like a death sentence.
- MS. JOSEPHINE
ONGOING IMPACT AND CONTRIBUTION
My work with Mi-Health Europe continues to shape their communications and advocacy efforts. The stories and photographs we produce are used to engage policymakers, healthcare providers, and the wider public in conversations about migrant health and rights. These narratives are central to Mi-Health Europe’s campaigns, helping to raise awareness and push for the systemic change that is so desperately needed.
Together, we are building a body of work that emphasizes the power of storytelling to humanize migrant experiences and advocate for health equity across Europe. The partnership is not just about documenting the present but is also focused on creating long-term solutions, empowering migrants, and fostering a more inclusive healthcare system for the future.
This project remains ongoing, with many more stories to tell as Mi-Health Europe continues its work across Europe. As these stories unfold, the goal is clear: to create a healthcare system that serves everyone, no matter where they come from.
HUMANIZING MIGRANT HEALTH CHALLENGES
Through this ongoing work with Mi-Health Europe, I’ve seen how healthcare access is deeply tied to broader social and political issues. Migrants often face stigma, discrimination, and a lack of information tailored to their needs. Across Europe, many are diagnosed late for critical illnesses like HIV, and legal status frequently dictates whether they can receive treatment. This project aims to put a human face to these issues, showing the interconnected crises of health, legality, and humanitarian needs.
Each story adds depth to Mi-Health Europe’s mission of reframing the conversation around migrant health. By sharing these stories, we hope to challenge the negative rhetoric that often surrounds migration and instead highlight the resilience and strength of those who face these obstacles every day.
