News

Breakthrough WHO initiative launched in Europe to engage and empower civil society organizations in health emergency responses 16-06-2021

Throughout the pandemic, civil society organizations (CSOs) have been crucial partners in reducing the impacts of COVID-19 on individuals and communities, particularly those in hard-to-reach vulnerable groups. The direct participation of CSOs – from planning through to the implementation and evaluation stages of preparedness, readiness and response – has also helped reinforce the actions of governments and has been a key factor in encouraging citizens to comply with guidance.

Toolkit on social participation informs public health strategies in Romania 05-04-2018

The Toolkit on social participation, developed by the WHO Collaborating Centre on Social Inclusion and Health in 2016 and published by WHO/Europe, was recently translated into Romanian. Thanks to this translation, it is informing a new project to improve the health status of Roma communities in the country.

From genetics to the social determinants of health – research on Roma health 07-06-2016

On 1–3 June 2016, prominent researchers from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia met at the University of Debrecen to share knowledge generated through research on Roma health and to discuss research gaps and priorities.

WHO engages with communities in preparation for Ukraine’s third polio vaccination round 19-01-2016

WHO is engaging with journalists, health workers and health mediators to prepare for the third round of Ukraine's nationwide polio vaccination campaign. Starting on 25 January 2016, this round targets 4.75 million children up to 10 years of age, providing children under 6 with the third dose required to be fully immunized, and children aged 6–10 with a booster dose for extra protection.

Multicountry training in Slovakia: integrating equity into maternal and child health programmes focusing on the Roma population 15-06-2015

Public health experts and researchers, and representatives of health ministries and civil society organizations gathered in Bratislava, Slovakia on 25–28 May 2015.

WHO and partners increase focus on Roma population in Ukraine 23-04-2015

The crisis situation in Ukraine resulted in additional burden on the Roma population. Since the crises started, 10,000 Roma people are estimated to have fled from their residences in the Eastern part of the country. These people have joined the large community of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Ukraine and are among IDPs' most vulnerable groups. However, many are not even recognized officially as citizens of Ukraine.

Improving chances for vulnerable communities in Serbia 27-01-2015

To celebrate the successful closure of a project to improve overall human security for vulnerable communities in southwest Serbia, a theatre show entitled “Journey” was organized and premiered on 12 December 2014. 26 Roma children performed the original play about the joys of Roma life and culture, in spite of harsh living conditions, and the similarities between Roma children’s hopes and interests and those of their non-Roma peers. The play was scheduled to be performed in several Serbian cities.  

Round table discussion on increasing access to cervical cancer screening among Roma women in Serbia 27-11-2014

A round table discussion on strengthening national capacity and intersectorial collaboration for achieving equity in national strategies, programmes and activities for health, using the example of the national programme for the early detection of cervical cancer was held in Belgrade, on 24 September 2014.  Organized by the WHO Country Office in Serbia, in collaboration with the National Health Authorities of the Republic of Serbia, the discussion took place at the Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut Institute of Public Health of Serbia.

European experts adopt declaration on healthy ageing of Roma communities 14-11-2014

A European Expert Symposium Healthy Ageing of Roma Communities: Endowers – Realities – Perspectives, organized by the University of Pécs Medical School, Hungary in cooperation with the WHO Regional Office for Europe and sponsored by the Hungarian State Secretariat for Social Affairs and Social Inclusion, was held in Pécs on 27–29 October 2014. The experts adopted the “Pécs Declaration on Healthy Ageing of Roma Communities” in which they recommend numerous measures that are essential to implement for increasing longevity and improving health among Roma communities.

New collaboration on migrant health with University of Pécs, Hungary 12-11-2014

Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, visited the University of Pécs on 10 November to publically announce closer collaboration between WHO/Europe and the University on the WHO Public Health Aspects of Migration in Europe (PHAME) project. The Regional Director particularly thanked Professor István Szilárd, Chief Scientific Adviser of the University of Pécs Medical School, for his continued commitment and collaboration.

Latest edition of Roma health newsletter out now 17-06-2014

New resources and reports relating to Roma health, including online Roma survey data from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the joint position paper on the UN’s role in advancing Roma inclusion, and reports on medical education to promote non-discrimination, inequalities for Roma women, and Roma households in Slovakia, are included in the latest edition of the Roma health newsletter. 

Community Parent Education (COPE) project group from Sweden visits WHO 14-05-2014

Members of the COPE (Community Parent Education) programme from Staffanstorp, Sweden, visited the WHO Regional Office in Copenhagen on 9 May to learn more about the regional activities in the field of Roma health and to present the COPE programme for discussion.

New websites on migration and Roma health 25-04-2014

An estimated 73 million migrants and 10–12 million Roma live in the WHO European Region. WHO/Europe works to establish supportive environments and resilient communities to improve these people’ health and well-being, and reduce health inequalities.

Third European Roma Summit calls for integration at local level 11-04-2014

Around 500 representatives of European Union (EU) institutions, national governments and parliaments, international organizations, civil society (including Roma organizations), local and regional authorities and mayors gathered in Brussels on 4 April 2014.

Joint position paper on United Nations support for Roma inclusion 26-02-2014

“The role of the United Nations in advancing Roma inclusion” identifies a number of crucial areas where United Nations (UN) agencies can add significant value to work to achieve Roma inclusion and development.

Strategies to reduce health inequities with focus on Roma 08-11-2013

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and WHO/Europe jointly organized a workshop on 24 October 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey to support the implementation of the National Roma Integration Strategies and the Decade of Roma Inclusion Action Plans. The workshop followed up on the recommendations of the UNFPA/WHO workshop held in Istanbul in October 2011 and reviewed the progress and lessons learned from the national health action plans implementation.

WHO Collaborating Centre on Social Inclusion and Health celebrates first anniversary 15-10-2013

The University of Alicante recently celebrated the first anniversary of the designation of the Interuniversity Institute of Social Development and Peace (IUDESP) as WHO Collaborating Centre on Social Inclusion and Health.

Significant progress in implementing activities for Roma health 12-07-2013

On 25–26 June 2013, with WHO/Europe, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) organized the second meeting of the Roma civil-society group on the right to health. 

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia hosts multi-country training on how to achieve greater health equity for Roma 21-03-2013

Public health decision-makers, experts and Roma association representatives from Bulgaria, Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia gathered in Skopje on 11–14 March 2013 to participate in a multi-country training on how to reorient strategies, programmes and activities related to Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 and 5 towards greater health equity with an explicit but not exclusive focus on the Roma population.

Training focuses on ensuring greater equity in policies for Roma population 16-11-2012

Public health experts from national and international organizations in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia recently attended a training course on reorienting strategies, programmes and activities related to Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 and 5 for greater health equity.

WHO opens new collaborating centre on social inclusion and health 04-10-2012

WHO has designated a WHO Collaborating Centre on Social Inclusion and Health at the University of Alicante, Spain. Dr Daniel La Parra, of the University, will lead the Centre.

Tailoring immunization to the needs of susceptible populations 13-06-2012

Telling people why they should vaccinate, or just expecting them to act on information given, may not work if immunization programmes do not consider how they perceive or can access vaccination. Bulgaria will pilot-test a WHO/Europe toolkit to help countries understand what influences vaccination among at-risk and vulnerable groups. Read more …

“Roma health newsletter”: first issue 15-05-2012

WHO/Europe, along with the European Commission and the University of Alicante, Spain, started a quarterly newsletter to share information and resources for improving Roma health. The first issue is out now.

Scaling up action for Roma health in Serbia and beyond 02-03-2012

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights, Public Administration and Local Self-government of Serbia, supported by WHO and other international partners, held a Roma health forum in Belgrade on 28–29 February 2012, and adopted a national declaration on Roma health.

Vulnerability and health: WHO opens new collaborating centre in Hungary 18-02-2012

WHO has designated the Department of Preventive Medicine in the Faculty of Public Health at the University of Debrecen, Hungary a WHO Collaborating Centre on Vulnerability and Health.