7. Health 7.1. Detention causes sickness In the final report of the first MSF mission in 2011, the NGO described the inhumane living and hygiene conditions in the detention centres of Evros, which cause serious health problems to migrants and asylum seekers detained there. According to their data, 60 % of migrants’ health problems are directly caused by or linked to the degrading conditions. Out of 1,809 patients treated by MSF, 1,147 were diagnosed with respiratory tract infections, body pains, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal disorders, psychological problems and skin diseases. Their psychological problems result from the inhumane detention conditions, fear of deportation, lack of knowledge about the detention period, insecure future, problems of communication and from being treated like criminals by the police.126 »Most of the migrants we have treated were not ill when they first entered the detention facilities,« said Ioanna Pertsinidou, coordinator of MSF’s project for migrants in Greece. »They fell sick from being held in overcrowded cells, lacking proper ventilation, water and sanitation, and from not having quality food or the possibility of spending time outdoors.«127 As an Iranian asylum seeker detained for almost six months in Feres also told us: »I cannot breathe. People smoke, the cell is overcrowded, it is cold and we cannot open the windows all the time … so I cannot breathe. The doctor gave me an asthma spray after I told him about my problem. Now I am using the third spray.«128 According to the experience of MSF in Evros, there is no evidence that people entering Greece pose a public health risk to Greek society, as was recently stated by Greek Minister of Health, Mr. Loverdos.129 He had requested advise from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the 126 MSF report 2011: http://www.msf.org/msf/articles/2011/06/more-than-60percent-of-the-medical-problems-faced-by-detainedmigrants-in-greece-caused-by-inhumane-living-and-hygieneconditions.cfm 127 http://xorissynora.msf.gr/2011/06/15/ Ελλδα-νω-απ το-60-των-ιατρικν-προβλ/ 128 A.F. from Iran; December 18, 2010 – Feres 129 http://tvxs.gr/news/%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AC% CE%B4%CE%B1/%C2%AB%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BC%CE% B2%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%AE%C2%BB-%CF%84%CE%B7% CF%82-%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE% B1-%CF%84%CE%B7-%CE%B4%CE%B7%CE%BC%CF%8C% CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%85%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE% AF%CE%B1-%CE%BB%CF%8C%CE%B3%CF%89-%C2%AB% CE%BB%CE%B1%CE%B8%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%B5% CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CF%83%CF%84%CF%8E% CE%BD%C2%BB-%CE%B6%CE%B7%CF%84%CE%AC-%CE% 41 issue of dangers for public health caused by irregular migration.130 On the contrary, it is the inhumane living and hygiene conditions in these facilities-where some migrants are kept for up to six months-that are causing a significant deterioration of their physical and mental health.131 7.2. Ineffective screening at arrival Law no. 3907/2011 provides for a set of measures to be taken at arrival, among which are a first medical examination of the detainees, as well as their referral to the appropriate institutions for further medical and psychosocial support, when needed.132 Still, until now, no standard medical procedure upon arrival is followed in Evros. The apprehended are not transferred to hospitals to undergo medical examination, instead they are immediately detained. The only medical examinations made are blood tests and Mantoux, and even here it remains unclear if all arrested are tested. Further examinations are made if the Mantoux is positive. Apart from the examination of these contagious diseases, there is no other systematic medical screening taking place. There is no individual medical assessment of each detainee and no individual medical record for all detainees. No screening for certain vulnerable groups is conducted. Wrong or incomplete registration of personal data, along with no proper record of the detainees transfers to medical facilities, or even to other detention camps, make it even harder to identify, examine, and treat the detainees. Additionally, it makes it difficult to have access to someone’s file and even to request medical certificates from the hospital, if needed. BF-%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B2%CE%AD%CF%81%CE% B4%CE%BF%CF%82 130 In July 2011 the World Health Organisation (WHO) visited upon request from the Minister of Health the detention centres of Evros and released a report: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/144012/ Greece_mission_rep_2011.pdf 131 See also: Spiratos, Thanasis (co-ordinator of MSF mission Evros 2011) 5th of February 2011: http://xorissynora.msf.gr/2011/03/03/Μαρτυρα-απ -τατμματα-συνοριακς-φ/ 132 G.G. A-7/26.1.2011 »Establishment of Asylum Service and Service of first reception, adaptation of Greek legislation with the provisions of Directive 2008/115/EC concerning common rules and procedure in member states for the returning of illegally staying third-country nationals and other provisions«.