Empowerment and awareness raising for health of Roma population

As a rule, members of vulnerable groups are at risk of poor health and this is also the case in Roma communities. There are several factors influencing the poor health of the Roma population: unemployment, poor living conditions, poor eating habits, poverty, domestic violence, and alcohol and tobacco dependence. Research shows that the lifestyle of the Roma is markedly unhealthy and that the life expectancy of the Roma is significantly shorter than that of the rest of the population.

We will promote a healthy lifestyle among the representatives of the Roma community, especially women. ‘Roma disseminators’ or ‘health promoters’ will play the key role in this project. They will attend a training program where they will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out workshops and counseling about health protection and promotion. We will show them how they can improve their own health, how they can access healthcare and how they can actively participate in shaping the healthcare system and society at large. The program will be designed in cooperation with members of the Roma community and will reflect their needs.

The campaign will pay special attention to the Roma's own health. We will encourage them to change their behavior, such as abandoning bad habits and adopting good ones. This will have a positive impact on the health of the individual and the community as a whole. We will achieve this through media announcements through various communication channels, direct communication and promotional material on a healthy lifestyle. The material will be in Romani.