As part of the implementation of the Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005–2015 and the Strategy for the Roma in the Republic of Macedonia, in 2010 the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the civil sector, began implementing the project “Roma Health Mediators.” The aim of this project is to overcome communication barriers between the Roma population and healthcare workers, to identify individuals and families who do not have access to healthcare through field visits, and to inform them about access to healthcare and health insurance, as well as about the availability of free health services provided under the preventive and curative programs of the Ministry of Health, and to improve the health status of Roma people.
As part of the project, on May 16, 2012, 15 health mediators began working in eight municipalities with predominantly Roma populations, as follows:
– 2 mediators in the municipality of Shuto Orizari
– 2 mediators in the municipality of Karpoš
– 2 mediators in the municipality of Tetovo
– 2 mediators in the municipality of Gostivar
– 1 mediator in the municipality of Bitola
– 1 mediator in the municipality of Prilep
– 2 mediators in the municipality of Kočani
– 3 mediators in the municipality of Štip
The health mediators are stationed in the Health Centers of the respective municipalities in order to be easily accessible to the population and healthcare workers.
Contact person from the Ministry of Health:
Senad Memedi, Advisor
senad.memedi@zdravstvo.gov.mk