A new “one-stop centre” will open in Cork City to help migrants and refugees find health services easily. This special health hub will help answer questions and provide support to people who are new to Ireland and unsure about how to access medical help.
The Nasc Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre is working with Cork City Council and the HSE to launch the Cork Migrant Health Hub. The idea is to make healthcare more accessible and welcoming for international protection applicants, refugees, Roma people, and other migrants in Cork.
Staff from the HSE’s migrant health services will be at the hub to support visitors and answer their questions. The centre will also link people to services like addiction support, immunizations, health screenings, and mental health support.
Why is this new migrant health hub important?
Many migrants and refugees feel confused or left out when trying to get healthcare in a new country. This hub will give them a clear, friendly place to ask for help, learn their options, and feel safe while doing it.
The hub will help find what services are missing and try to improve support for migrants. It will also create safe and supportive spaces for emotional, physical, social, and cultural health. The goal is to make sure people feel included and supported, not just medically, but as full members of the Cork community.
Staff from local groups like Cork City Partnership and the city’s integration team will also work at the hub. They know the challenges migrants face and will help guide them through the healthcare process. Other partners include Cork Migrant Centre, South Parish Community Centre, Brijj, Lib Counselling, and the Children and Young People Services Committee.
The hub’s mission is based on “partnership and collaboration” and aims to make Cork truly a “City of Welcomes.” The launch is timed to match World Refugee Day and will be held during Refugee Week 2025, which celebrates the theme “Community as a Superpower.”
The Lord Mayor of Cork will officially open the centre this Friday. The event will include live music from performers like Citadel, the African Queens, Sauti Mentors, and the Kalyna Soul Project. There will also be colourful murals created by migrant women and artist Joe Caslin, showcasing the strength and creativity of Cork’s migrant community.