- Roma Health Care
Most of the specific activities for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 were implemented on the ground in
local Roma communities, focusing on concrete advancement and improvement of health care of
Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Significant progress has been made in particular when it comes to the introduction of many Roma
families in the health care system in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2013-2016
through the funding of the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, social welfare
centres and cantonal ministries of education), or 934 individuals in total. Important progress has
been made also when it comes to education of the Roma population on the manner of exercising
the right to health care, raising awareness about the importance of health care in the Roma
communities, immunisation of Roma children and reproductive health and maternity care, on
education of Roma NGOs in the local communities in this area, as well as the implementation of
prevention programmes, namely screening for specific diseases (cervical cancer, breast cancer,
colon cancer) in Roma communities.
- The drafting of the new 2017-2020 Action Plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina to address the
problems of Roma in the areas of employment, housing and health care (AP) is ongoing. This
document is made based on the actual situation of the Roma minority, cited legal framework, as
well as the results of implementation of the Revised Action Plane (Report for 2013, 2014 and
2015) and the recommendations that emerged from this analysis. It also takes account of the EU
framework with recommendations to states to:
- Identify national goals for Roma integration to bridge the gap between Roma and the
general population, including especially access to education, employment, health and
housing for Roma;
- Map socially disadvantaged micro-regions or segregated settlements;
- Regularly allocate funds in the budget, which will be complemented by international funds
and the EU funds;
- Establish successful methods of monitoring;
- Eensure close cooperation with Roma representatives at local and regional level;
- Revise action plans in accordance with these principles and ensure a coordinating role for
Roma representatives.
By applying this approach, Bosnia and Herzegovina is continuing with its efforts in the
integration of Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina, both at regional and local level, with the aim to
combine efforts of all levels of government, especially local governments, and other civil society
organisations and Roma associations.
- It was ensured that all authorities, budgetary institutions, with Roma living in their areas, plan
funds for Roma according to the adopted Action Plan. This was followed by institutions,
particularly at the local level, resulting in allocations of substantial funds for associations of
national minorities (especially Roma).
- In addition to these activities, the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH is regularly
providing and supporting the work and activities of the Roma Committee of Bosnia and
Herzegovina with the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is an advisory and
coordinating body, and which also tracks and monitors the implementation of the strategies and
action plans.
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