A support tool model for decision making to reduce the health risk associated with the uncontrolled water and food sources in rural Roma communities in Transylvania

Project facts

Project promoter:
Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca(RO)
Project Number:
RO-RESEARCH-0023
Status:
In implementation
Initial project cost:
€1,177,523
Donor Project Partners:
Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)(NO)
Other Project Partners
Romanian Institute for Research on National Minorities(RO)
The National Institute for Public Health(RO)
University of Medicine and Pharmacy "uliu Hatieganu"(RO)
Programme:

More information

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.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.