HERA – Health Education and Research Association, Skopje
Total budget: 13,905,023.00 MKD
Implementation period: 01.12.2023 – 30.05.2026 (30 months)
Specific topic: Health
Partners:
- Stronger Together, Association for Support of People Living with HIV, Skopje
- Association for emancipation, solidarity and equality of women, Skopje
- Association Initiative for the rights of women in Shuto Orizari, Skopje
Constituents: The Ministry of Health, public health institutions and expert bodies and commissions, women and girls in the reproductive period (15-49 years), mothers and children; people living with HIV; key populations affected by HIV: gay men, people who inject drugs and sex workers; Roma people
About the project supported by Civica Mobilitas: Improved health rights of the girls, women and vulnerable groups
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED SPECIFIC TOPIC
The topic of health in this initiative is approached through the obligation of the public health system to guarantee protection and improvement of health to all citizens, especially to vulnerable groups. Investments in health programs reduce inequalities between the population and represent an investment in the development of society. The COVID-19 pandemic showed the importance of investing in healthcare, and in particular in prevention among vulnerable groups, who are likely be the first to suffer direct consequences in any other possible crisis in future.
OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS
Overall Objective: The health protection of vulnerable groups in North Macedonia is improved, based on an intensive collaboration between the institutions and civil society in identifying the needs, the planning of measures, as well as the delivery of services.
Specific Objective: To improve selected 4 public health programs of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia for vulnerable populations through a strengthened participation of civil society in planning, evidence-based budgeting and an enabling legal framework for the involvement of civil society organizations as service providers.
RESULTS
- Strengthened participation of civil society in developing health policies and budgets of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia;
- Improved commitment of the Government for the preventive health protection through increased budgets and prescribed measures in the preventive programs according to the needs of vulnerable groups; and
- Improved legal framework for civil society organizations as national providers of health services which contributes to bigger sustainability of services for vulnerable groups.
ACTIVITIES
- Conducting analyses of 4 public health programs
- Consultation workshops for the development of four health programs
- Local public events in three towns
- Community forums
- Actions for creative activism
- Coordination meetings (monthly)
- Advocacy meetings with decision makers
- Economic evaluation to identify return on investment in preventive programs
- Monitoring of the planning and implementation of the measures of 4 public health programs
- Preparation of policy briefs (8 policy briefs)
- Media campaign for improved health care
- National Health Conference
- Thematic forum on Health
- Analysis on amendments to the Law on Healthcare
- Meetings of working group for drafting legal amendments and bylaws
- Parliamentary advocacy
- Public hearing in the Parliament on amendments to the Law on Healthcare
