First Transnational Working Group:

Sofia (Bulgaria), 21-23 October 2005
   
   

 

Conclusions

 

SMALL WORKING GROUPS’ CONCLUSIONS

 

According to the agenda, after the presentation of each of the partner countries  about their national working group conclusions in regard to the analysis of he Roma community in regard to health, participants split into two small working groups to discuss or put in common two major topics: 1. identify common problems European Roma suffer, despite their heterogeneity and 2. recommendations to be translated into action to improve the situation.

 

Working Group 1

 

Common Problems

 

  1. Services are not prepared for those who are culturally different

  2. Prejudices, stereotypes (both sides)

  3. Mistrust in health care services

  4. Pilot projects which have no continuation

  5. Lack of information among Roma community how the health care system works

  6. Low living standards

  7. Low hygiene

  8. Bad nutrition

 

Recommendations

 

  1. To recognize and certificate the role of health mediators on institutional level.

  2. Awareness campaigns adapted to the characteristics of Roma communities (examples: bringing groups to hospital - churches show them how it works, so they become familiar with it; using pictures, not written leaflets).

  3. Compulsory courses for health professionals and nurses in multicultural issues, intercultural approach – included in the formal educational system.

 

  

Working Group 2

 

Common Problems

 

  1. Low life expectancy rate

  2. Low age of maternity – early marriages

  3. High birth rate

  4. High infant mortality rate

  5. Lack of access to health and care services

  6. High chronic infectious and parasitic diseases rate

  7. Lack of prevention (two folded: implementation of health programs and awareness of Roma)

  8. Lack of social-medical surveys

  9. Lack of trust in both directions

  10. Lack of information and awareness, monitoring and follow up of the patient

  11. Lack of training of health professionals in diversity

  12. High rate of substances use

  13. Bad nutrition

  14. Low rate of efficient vaccination

 

Recommendations

 

  1. Involve Roma in the Health process

  2. Information and awareness campaigns in the frame of health rights and services

  3. Training of health agents in diversity and discrimination

  4. Prevention – prophylaxis integrated into educational system

  5. Registration of all people

  6.  Training and institutionalization of Health Mediators

  7. Provision of supplies (water, electricity) to Roma settlements

 

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