South Africa: Healthcare for migrant women & their children

Since 2023, ICMC has supported the St Charles Clinic in Johannesburg to provide access to free, essential healthcare for refugee and migrant women and their children.

Johannesburg is South Africa’s economic center, and home to more than 1.4 million African labor migrants and a significant number of the more than 170,000 refugees living in South Africa. In recent years, ongoing tensions and healthcare underfunding in South Africa’s have narrowed access to essential services for migrants and refugees.

Opened at the start of 2023, the St Charles Clinic operates from the refugee and migrant center in La Rochelle, Johannesburg, itself established by Father Eduardo Gabriel in 2021.

With ICMC support, the clinic brought 30 migrant women and medical experts together for a workshop discussion on HPV vaccines and health screenings. 47 women subsequently received vaccinations, and the clinic referred those for whom screening identified further issues for specialist treatment.

With ICMC support, St Charles Clinic also addresses a wide range of psychosocial, mental health, and wellbeing aspects relevant for migrant and refugee women in Johannesburg, and works with Church and humanitarian partners to reach refugees and migrants in most need.

Scroll down to view stories from the St Charles Clinic, published by ICMC to mark International Women’s Day 2026, celebrated on 8 March…

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All photos © St Charles Clinic Centre NPC