WHO collaborating centres working on Roma health

Found throughout the world, WHO collaborating centres are an extended and integral part of WHO’s capacity to implement its work. They represent a highly valued mechanism of cooperation that assists WHO in:

• achieving its strategic objectives at the regional and global levels;
• enhancing the scientific validity of its global health work; and
• developing and strengthening institutional capacity in countries and regions.

WHO/Europe has designated 2 collaborating centres to support its work on vulnerability and health, including the health of Roma populations.

WHO Collaborating Centre on Vulnerability and Health

Located in the Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Hungary and established in February 2012, the Collaborating Centre works with WHO on:

• developing equitable and comparable research on Roma health;
• collecting evidence and disseminating information on vulnerable groups; and
• developing materials and organizing events for policy-makers to build capacity in inclusive research methods and knowledge of research on Roma health, including the impact of housing policies.

WHO Collaborating Centre on Social Inclusion and Health

Located in the Interuniversity Institute of Social Development and Peace, University of Alicante, Spain and established in September 2012, the Collaborating Centre works with WHO on:

• documenting promising practices and the producing normative guidance and tools to improve the health of populations experiencing poverty and social exclusion, with a specific focus on Roma and migrants and due attention to gender equity;
• exchanging information and raising awareness among stakeholders, using electronic/web-based platforms, to improve the health of socially excluded populations;
• organizing capacity-building activities for health policy-makers, programme managers and other stakeholders, on ways to improve the health of populations experiencing social exclusion and poverty;
• developing a resource package and training materials for reorienting health programmes towards equity, a tool kit on participation, web-based resources and a policy briefing on gender-based violence; and
• establishing a teaching network on social exclusion and health.