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Description
The Roma is one of the most disadvantaged minorities in Europe, both in terms of access to education, medical services, integration into society, equal chances, or access to the labour market. These discrepancies have long-term consequences, and according to the EC Report (2014), the life expectancy of Roma is 7 to 20 years lower compared to non-Roma. Major health inequalities, like higher health risk, lower access to preventive services, or less healthy lifestyle are mentioned. Even if some measures were taken, more needs to be done because targeted healthcare policies can be effective when the particular health challenges facing a given community are known. The project aims: (i) to determine the occurrence of microbes and parasites in drinking water and food items of rural Roma communities; (ii) to develop a software for health risk assessment which can be applied to other similar communities; (iii) to create a Model of Best Practice Hygienic-Sanitary Guidelines to enhance human health by increasing the consumption safety of drinking water and food, including personal hygiene and to transfer the obtained knowledge to public authorities for implementation in similar communities. The project provides real data regarding the quality of water and food sources used by 25 rural Roma communities from Transylvania. It offers know-how, capabilities and expertise, integrated into a complex solution to solve the issues of human health risk in terms of increasing protection from drinking water and food sources. The project meets a real public health need because it aims to improve the health status of the population and thus to increase the life expectancy and quality of the direct beneficiaries of the monitoring. The cooperation ensures the increase of the research capacity of the involved institutions, training at a high scientific level, supports research for doctoral theses, and increases the potential for new applications to EU or other international programs.
Summary of project results
The Roma represents the largest ethnic minority in Europe and one of the most disadvantaged minorities, both in terms of access to education, medical services, integration into society, equal opportunities, and access to the labor market. These discrepancies have long-term effects, and according to the EC Report (2014) the Roma population has a life expectancy of 7 to 20 years less than the non-Roma population. The lack of scientific data on the occurrence of pathogens and chemical contaminants in the drinking water and food of rural Roma communities precludes the possibility of assessing the risk to health and, therefore, implementing measures to mitigate the prevalence of disease among Roma. The project aimed to improve the access and knowledge of public authorities by providing know-how, capacities and expertise, integrated into a complex solution to solve human health risk problems in rural Roma communities to increase the protection of drinking water sources and food. The project has a multi-stakeholder partnership aimed at creating standards on the inclusion of the Roma minority and providing practical capacity building tools to improve population health and thus increase the life expectancy and quality of life of the Roma minority.
Inventory and mapping of rural Roma communities in Transylvania without access to controlled water; questionnaire for the assessment of factors contributing to living conditions and human health; database of the prevalence of biological and chemical contaminants in water and food sources used in Roma communities; database of parasite infections; database of diseases associated with contaminants found in water and food samples; health risk assessment related to water and food sources of Roma communities; health risk assessment software suitable for public authorities and Best Practice Hygienic-Sanitary Guidelines for improving human health have been created. The health risk assessment software was installed in 25 rural localities and staff were trained in its use. Reports on water and food quality, as well as human health risks associated with soil exposure and water and food consumption, have been submitted to public authorities involved in the project. Best Practice Hygienic-Sanitary Guideline was implemented in all selected communities. Five scientific publications and one book in print format were published. Participation in international and national scientific meetings was carried out to disseminate the results. A dedicated website has been developed, allowing both researchers and the general public free access to all information from the project [https://romahealthrisk.com].
Being one of the most comprehensive studies related to the quality of water and food sources carried out in Roma communities in Romania, through the database provided to local authorities we have brought clear evidence regarding the need to develop policies to increase the safety of water and food sources. We believe that the results will increase individual and group awareness of the links between food quality and health, based on robust scientific evidence about the complex factors of living conditions on the well-being of rural Roma communities. The project promoted customized measures for public authorities in 25 rural Roma communities to reduce health risks associated with uncontrolled water and food sources and provided a methodology that can be applied to similar rural communities. The project will contribute to improving the quality of life of 25 rural Roma communities in Transylvania, which are the main beneficiaries of the project''s implementation. It also increases social awareness of public facilities, which could contribute to reducing discrepancies between Roma and non-Roma communities, with the aim of increasing the life expectancy of Roma communities. In addition, the project provided valuable information in the field of public health and will likely fill the research gap focused on Roma communities.
Summary of bilateral results
Given that a successful planning and implementation of programs aimed to improve the health status of the Roma must be based on solid facts about their problems and the causes behind them, by using data obtained through sociological and epidemiological investigations combined with measurements biological and chemical contaminants in water and food used in rural Roma communities, we created databases useful for computer modeling and obtained information needed to assess human health risks in 25 rural Roma communities in Transylvania. Thus, the findings contributed to the overall objectives of the Grants regarding the reduction of economic and social disparities and the strengthening of bilateral relations.