Programs

Public Health

Law and Health Initiative

Law and Health Initiative aims to enrich the educational process and practices of health and legal professionals by implementing integrated law and health concepts that promote non-discriminatory services and protection of rights of socially marginalized communities.

In the second half of 2009, in order to help development of a new generation of lawyers with expertise in human rights in patient care and to increase the capacity of local NGOs interested in working in this area, the NGO Studiorum in partnership with Association for Emancipation, Equality and Solidarity – ESE has started realization of one year fellowship program. In 2010, with technical assistance from LAHI, HRGGP and HMI, FOSIM’s PHP will continue to support the follow up of the implementation of the legislation related to patient’ rights as well as overall process of building the field of law, human rights, and patient care. LAHI and HRGGP (Human Rights Grant Giving Program) will give a grant to Law faculty to organize LAHI courses workshop in Macedonia. FOSIM will provide an operational assistance for realization of the workshop and will host Fellows Orientation in August 2010. In collaboration with LAHI and SHARP, FOSIM will continue to support provision of legal assistance for sex workers victims of the police raid as well as legal assistance for the members of other SMC. The joint LAHI/SHARP/FOSIM project on human rights documentation will be continuing in 2010 also. As of 2010 with OSI LAHI and Roma Health Program technical and financial support, aiming to improve the state of patients’ rights among Roma communities, FOSIM plans to start with realization of the Paralegal project. Experienced legal NGO will be identified to train activists from Roma NGOs as paralegal advisers to the local Roma communities’ members in regard to patient’s rights issues. In addition, the project will have a campaign related component for documenting and advocating against violations of the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment in health-care settings.

Budget: 74.300 EUR

Sexual Health and Rights Project

The main goal of the project is to increase access to health care and advance health-related rights of marginalized persons due to their sexual practices, sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This includes work with sex workers and sexual minorities, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, intersexual, and transgender persons. In 2010, with technical and financial assistance from SHARP and LAHI, FOSIM will provide further support for the SH&H Coalition work to document and report cases of health rights violations of the members of SMC. Aiming to assist development of the communication component that reflect and support Coalition’s advocacy goals, within a health and human rights framework HMI (Health Media Initiative) will also cooperate in realization of the project activities. Within the framework of the activities for 2010, in order to promote full participation of socially marginalized populations, sex workers in particular, in developing and implementing policies and services that impact their health and rights, FOSIM and SHARP will support institutional capacity building of the Sex workers association - STAR.

Budget: 45.800 EUR

Health Budget Monitoring and Advocacy Project

The Health Budget Monitoring and Advocacy Project is a subprogram that promotes civil society leadership and participation in shaping health policies that respect human rights. The project works to promote transparency of public funding, increase access to key health information, strengthen participation of marginalized populations in health policy debates, and increase the effectiveness, equity, and impact of health expenditures. In 2010, with OSI HBMAP technical assistance FOSIM’s PHP will continue to support the ongoing health budget monitoring project. Roma Health Program will be engaged in joint collaboration as well. Knowledge and skills gained through capacity building process throughout 2009 will help Mesecina and ESE to integrate and successfully use budget analysis in preparation of the second phase of the project. In the forthcoming period, FOSIM will continue supporting the project in accordance with the activities foreseen for the advocacy component. The survey identifying the gaps in the immunization of Roma children combined with the results from the analysis of immunization budgets for 2007 and 2008, will serve as a starting point to conceptualize the overall evidence based advocacy activities. Being actively involved in the activities within the Roma Decade from its very beginning thus having proven record of good cooperation with the Ministry of Health, FOSIM will continue to play an active role in convening, advocating, and pressurizing government to promote the advocacy goals of the project.

Budget: 46.800 EUR

Access to Essential Medicines Initiative

The initiative promotes civil society engagement in work that focuses on three key areas: monitoring and ensuring transparency of the pharmaceutical industry, fostering models of drug innovation that protect public health, and supporting fair and efficient mechanisms to ensure availability of medicines. An experience gained from the introductory seminar held in 2009, shown that the majority of civic sector in Macedonia has very low knowledge and awareness of possibilities for NGO’s involvement in the processes of public control over the budget funds allocated for the procurement and supply of medicines. Therefore, aiming to support development of the civil society capacity for monitoring of procurement practices and advocating for transparency and accountability of public institutions, by the end of 2009, in collaboration with the OSI AEMI, two NGOs were granted funds to carry out projects in this field. Considering great interest among NGOs that participated at the seminar, FOSIM will continue with the same activities in 2010 as well. Grants will be given to health and transparency NGOs to support development of just and efficient mechanisms for ensuring availability of essential medicines and medical supplies.

Budget: 27.700 EUR

Roma Health Project

The project focuses on the protection of the rights of the Roma population in the health care setting, by promoting involvement of Roma communities in advocating for access to health services, addressing discrimination against Roma in the health sector and raising visibility around the obstacles impeding access health care. RHP is working to affect the development of sound public health policies targeting Roma, and combating the perpetuation of myths and stereotypes about Roma communities and health. Besides cross-program projects related to Roma health issues undertaken in collaboration with HBMAP and LAHI, in 2010 FOSIM will start 2 new initiatives: the Roma Health Mediators Project and the Roma Health Scholarship Project. With OSI RHP technical assistance and in partnership with HERA, FOSIM’s PHP will support development of Macedonian concept of Roma health mediators by supporting establishment of an expert group to work on the development of a training curriculum for Roma Health Mediators, with the participation of the Health Academic professors and Roma Health and social experts. The project will especially enhance multi-sectorial partnerships with both relevant governmental health institutions (Public School of Medicine, Institute for Mother and Child Protection, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Affairs) and Roma community activists to support the introduction of the concept of Health Mediators as part of the public health care system.

Roma Health Scholarship Project is aiming to increase the number of Roma doctors and nurses as one of the most effective ways to combat discrimination and human rights abuses in health care settings. In collaboration with OSI RHP and Roma Education Fund (REF), FOSIM will provide support for health education, mentorship and health advocacy training for Macedonian students in medical schools, nurses’ colleges and medical vocational education, as well as for resident doctors of Roma origin. As a result of this program, in the academic year 2010-2011 a comprehensive support package including scholarship, mentorship, and training on advocacy and communication skills development will be awarded to 30 students of Roma ethnicity in Macedonia.

Budget: 89.450 EUR