Description
The project addresses the challenges related to improved access to healthcare for the Roma minority. The project aims at raising the awareness and commitment of local stakeholders and ensuring better access to healthcare. First, Sofia, Montana and Yambol Districts will be identified. Second, the state of healthcare for the Roma minority will be analyzed. Third, information meetings will be held to identify the local stakeholders. Fourth, 3 forums on maternal and child health, disease prevention and the role of health mediators (HM) will be held in each district. Next, pilot measures will be demonstrated and advocacy actions will be taken to integrate them in municipal development plans. Finally, standards for health mediators will be set up and advocacy actions will be taken to ensure their use by healthcare institutions. The project will benefit the target groups of Roma minority as well as local stakeholders (authorities, NGOs, healthcare experts) and local community in general.
Summary of project results
Civil society organizations were involved in the project implementation on a local level aiming at achieving better access to health services and care for the vulnerable Roma community. At present the project promoter relies on their involvement in order to include pilot practices in the municipal plans. The support that was attracted included civil society organizations (CSOs) and active citizens such as medical specialists, experts, health mediators who came up with real proposals for the application of the local policies for health service and care for the vulnerable Roma community. The project also helped improve the dialogue between CSOs and local stakeholders such as the municipality, regional health inspections, medical teams and hospitals; teams were formed in the target municipalities that provide support and work together for the solution of the problems related to the access to healthcare for the vulnerable communities. The impact of the project on the target groups is evident as a new service was proposed for them – a health mediator employed at the hospital who helped them to be admitted to the hospital with information and explanations. The project team continues to work in two of the target municipalities on a similar project (Samokov and Straldzha) owing to its good relations with CSOs from these municipalities. Good relations were also established with medical specialists from the cities of Lom, Yambol and Samokov as well as with the municipal administration of the municipalities of Tundzha, Samokov, Montana and Lom. The following activities were organized under the projects: 9 forums, free-of-charge OG examinations, tests and consultations of health insured Roma women as well as examinations of patients with serious diseases by medical cardiovascular specialists. For more information, visit:
http://emhpf.org/events.php
Summary of bilateral results