Improving access to primary healthcare for individuals affected by poverty, with a focus on rural areas

Project TRANSAKT

Transforming global societal challenges into real local activities supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Social Policy, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection.

For the first time in the Republic of North Macedonia and in the region, a service called Community Nurse will be piloted through the project. The aim is to apply good practices from the EU to ensure healthcare and social protection for citizens, particularly those at social risk, in this country.

Community nursing is a social service focused on the health of the population, with an emphasis on prevention and health promotion, and addressing health issues within the community. It is a practice of promoting and protecting the health of individuals and families, as well as groups and communities, through the application of knowledge from medical science, social sciences, and public health. This approach includes advocating for individuals and families, groups and communities, and their healthcare and health issues, as well as developing and planning public networks that relate to barriers-free access to care, healthcare, and social services. With a multiperspective approach to health, care is provided in the community, i.e., in people's homes.

Project goal:

Improving access to primary healthcare for individuals affected by poverty, with a focus on rural areas

General goals of the project

Providing ecological, social, and economic resources to maintain the emotional and physical well-being of people in poverty
Providing access to healthcare and social services for people in poverty through the introduction of innovative programs and strengthening cooperation between national and local authorities, civil organizations, and businesses.
Facilitating access to healthcare services, promoting a healthy and productive community
Providing accessible healthcare services for people in poverty in rural and hard-to-reach areas of the community
Creating and maintaining an environment with optimal health for women and men of all ages (including children, adolescents, and older adults, especially those in poverty) by eliminating gender constraints
Contribution to equal access to social institutions and services for vulnerable groups
Strengthening the capacities of civil organizations
Improving collaboration between relevant stakeholders in the social and health sectors
Efficient and fair implementation of public health policies and programs

Specific project goals

Knowledge transfer
Improving the health and social status of vulnerable groups, especially those living in poverty
Implementation of the community nurse model in rural areas of North Macedonia based on experiences in Austria
Establishing community health services – community care for maintaining, protecting, and improving the health status of the population and communities, especially those living in poverty
Increasing the capacity and sustainability of NGOs in North Macedonia in providing social and health services with a focus on people living in poverty
Të ngritet ndërgjegjësimi tek ata që marrin vendime dhe stafi i ministrive/agjencive shtetërore që merren me çështje të shërbimeve sociale dhe shëndetësore për rëndësinë e qasjes së barabartë në shërbimet shëndetësore dhe sociale dhe krijimin dhe ofrimin e shërbimeve shëndetësore dhe sociale që përmbushin nevojat e komunitetit
Conducting evaluations to determine the impact of programs on the health status of individuals and the population.
Using the results from the pilot of the service for further research, identifying opportunities to influence the provision of care, the use of health resources, and the development of local, national, and regional health policies for promoting health and preventing diseases.

The project is led by three organizations from the Republic of Austria in partnership with the Center for Development and Education as a licensed provider of social services in the territories of the municipalities of Prilep, Krivogashtani, and Dolneni.

The activities will be carried out in close cooperation with the municipality of Prilep, the municipality of Krivogashtani, the municipality of Dolneni, the JU MCSHR Prilep, and the City Hospital of Prilep, and the municipality of Gradsko.

Within the project, the procurement of equipment to improve mobility for individuals with mobility issues, the procurement of medications for families living in poverty, and social packages are planned.

The engagement of 10 nurses and 5 social workers and psychologists is planned in order to enable access to comprehensive services for individuals/families living in poverty, with a focus on rural areas.