Reduction of health inequalities in the Roma community

The European Network Sastipen aims at the reduction of the health inequalities suffered by the Roma population in Europe, whose estimated population is of 8 million. Studies show that health status of Roma are far below the mainstream society in Europe: The life expectancy rate for Europe’s Roma population is approximately 10 years lower than the overall average. The incidence of environment-related illnesses is higher for Roma than for the general population. Lack of vaccination and nutrition deficiencies are detected in the case of children. There is a higher incidence of accidents and involuntary injury such as: burns, falls, traffic accidents, bone fractures, intoxication, etc. It has been detected a special vulnerability of Roma to drug and alcohol dependency, and their generalised lack of sexual education puts them vulnerable to HIV/ AIDs.

Roma popultion of the countries involved in the project are or will be soon European citizens, however their life standards and particularly health status of Roma are poor making this minority seriously vulnerable to diseases which have been mostly overcome by mainstream society. The erradication of health inequalities suffered by Roma in Europe should be araised at the political agenda to guarantee European's citizens human rights.

The project aimed at gathering information on health status of Roma, their comparasion with mainstream society to produce recommendations and intervention strategies addressed to decision makers; identifying main causes of the lack of proper acces of Roma population to mainstream services, and the lack of proper use of these services due to particular cultural habits in order to address them through trainning and mobilisation of main stakeholders; analysing the influence of socio-economic and environmental causes in detriment of health standards and the role of community leaders, social mediators and romani women in the promotion of healthcare in order to empower them with skills and know-how. 

The program "Reduction of Health Inequalities in the Roma Community" was funded by the European Commission funds and had been realized in 2005-2006.

On the international level it was coordintated by Spanish organization FSG (Fundación Secretariado Gitano, www.fsgg.org), on local level there were 11 organizations from different European countries participating in the program.

Within the program, we have published a brochure Healthcare in socialy excluded communities (Zdravotná starostlivosť v sociálne vylúčených rómskych komunitách); the target group is healthcare personnel working in this area.

Photographs from the trainings: